Ramadan timetable 2027 in Riyadh: calculated times
In Riyadh, the Ramadan timetable 2027 consists of a daily schedule of imsak and iftar, that is, the time the fast begins before dawn and the time it ends at sunset. Between 8 February and 8 March, iftar moves from 17:43 to 17:59.
Ramadan 2027 in Riyadh is expected to begin on Monday 8 February, with imsak at 05:04 and iftar at 17:43. The first fast lasts 12 h 38, and by the 29th day it reaches 13 h 15 in the Saudi capital.
| Day | Imsak | Fajr | Sunrise | Iftar (maghrib) | Isha | Fasting time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 – Mon 8 Feb | 05:04 | 05:14 | 06:32 | 17:43 | 18:56 | 12 h 38 |
| Day 15 – Mon 22 Feb | 04:56 | 05:06 | 06:22 | 17:51 | 19:03 | 12 h 56 |
| Day 29 – Mon 8 Mar | 04:44 | 04:54 | 06:10 | 17:59 | 19:10 | 13 h 15 |
Calculated estimates (18°/17° (MWL)). The IslamicFinder widget above shows today’s times; check with your local mosque.
A short swing in fasting hours
Riyadh lies at about 24.7 degrees north, much closer to the tropics than European or North African cities. As a result, the length of the fast changes only moderately during the month, gaining thirty-seven minutes between the first day and the 29th.
On day 1, imsak is at 05:04, fajr at 05:14 and sunrise at 06:32, with iftar at 17:43. On Monday 22 February, the fast runs from 04:56 to 17:51 for 12 h 56, and on 8 March from 04:44 to 17:59.
The official Umm al-Qura calendar
Saudi Arabia publishes its prayer times in the Umm al-Qura calendar, which uses its own conventions, notably a fixed interval for isha after maghrib. The isha times in the table, calculated at 17 degrees, may therefore differ from those announced in Riyadh's mosques.
For fajr and imsak, the differences are usually limited to a few minutes. Residents should rely on the adhan of their local mosque or the official calendar, using the computed table above as a guide for planning suhoor and iftar.
Riyadh within Arabia Standard Time
The kingdom uses a single time zone, UTC+3, without daylight saving. Riyadh, in the centre, breaks the fast sixteen minutes after Dammam on the Gulf coast, at 17:27, but more than half an hour before Jeddah and Mecca in the west.
Announcement by the Supreme Court
In Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Court announces the start of Ramadan on the basis of crescent sightings reported on the evening of 29 Sha'ban. The decision, expected on Sunday 7 February 2027, applies across the kingdom and is widely followed abroad.
Ramadan 1448 dates for Riyadh
If the crescent is seen on the evening of 7 February, the first tarawih is prayed that night and fasting begins on Monday 8 February 2027. Otherwise the month of Sha'ban is completed, and Ramadan starts on Tuesday 9 February.
Laylat al-Qadr is expected on the evening of Friday 5 March, although many worshippers seek it throughout the last ten nights. Eid al-Fitr would then fall on Tuesday 9 March 2027, or Wednesday 10 March if Ramadan lasts thirty days.
Pleasant weather for a winter Ramadan
February and early March are among the most comfortable months in Riyadh, with warm, sunny days and cool, sometimes chilly nights in the desert air. Compared with recent summer Ramadans, fasting is much easier, though the dry climate still calls for good hydration.
Saudi iftar traditions
The fast is broken with dates and Arabic coffee, often followed by laban, sambusa and a bowl of shorbat shofan, an oat soup. After the maghrib prayer, families gather for a larger meal, which may include kabsa, while shops and malls stay open late.
Tips for residents and visitors
Daily life in Riyadh shifts towards the night during Ramadan, with shorter working hours common in many sectors and traffic peaking just before iftar and again late in the evening. Some practical advice for the month:
- Avoid driving in the half-hour before 17:43
- Do not eat or drink in public during fasting hours
- Plan shopping after tarawih, when stores are open
- Drink water steadily between iftar and suhoor
FAQ: what time is iftar in Riyadh on 22 February?
On Monday 22 February 2027, iftar in Riyadh is at 17:51, the time of maghrib. Imsak that morning is at 04:56 and fajr at 05:06, giving a mid-month fast of 12 h 56, eighteen minutes longer than on day 1.
FAQ: is Riyadh's fast longer than Jeddah's?
No, Jeddah's is slightly longer at the start of the month. On day 1, Jeddah fasts 12 h 45 against 12 h 38 in Riyadh, because it lies further south. By the 29th day, both cities reach 13 h 15.
FAQ: when is the first tarawih in Riyadh?
The first tarawih is expected on the evening of Sunday 7 February 2027, after the Supreme Court's announcement. Isha in Riyadh is around 18:56 on the first days under the 17-degree calculation, but later under the Umm al-Qura convention used by mosques.