Ramadan timetable 2027 in Tanzania: calculated times
In Tanzania, the Ramadan timetable 2027 consists of the imsak time, the limit for the last meal before dawn, and the iftar time, the moment the fast is broken at sunset. The fast lasts 13 h 42 on the first day and 13 h 30 on the twenty-ninth.
In Tanzania, Ramadan 2027 is expected to start on Monday 8 February. Dodoma, the capital, ends suhoor at 05:19 that morning and breaks the fast at 19:01, a fast of 13 hours 42 minutes, while Dar es Salaam eats at 18:48.
| Day | Imsak | Fajr | Sunrise | Iftar (maghrib) | Isha | Fasting time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 – Mon 8 Feb | 05:19 | 05:29 | 06:41 | 19:01 | 20:09 | 13 h 42 |
| Day 15 – Mon 22 Feb | 05:22 | 05:32 | 06:43 | 18:58 | 20:05 | 13 h 36 |
| Day 29 – Mon 8 Mar | 05:23 | 05:33 | 06:42 | 18:53 | 19:59 | 13 h 30 |
Calculated estimates (18°/17° (MWL)). The IslamicFinder widget above shows today’s times; check with your local mosque.
A fast that shortens through the month
South of the equator, February and March bring shorter days rather than longer ones. In Dodoma the fast lasts 13 h 42 on day one, 13 h 36 on day 15 and 13 h 30 on day 29, the reverse of North Africa.
Iftar in the capital moves from 19:01 to 18:58 and then to 18:53, while imsak shifts only slightly, from 05:19 to 05:23. The last days of Ramadan are therefore the easiest of the month for fasting families.
The coast and the plateau compared
Dar es Salaam, on the Indian Ocean coast, lies further east than Dodoma and breaks its fast at 18:48 on day one, thirteen minutes before the capital. Its fast is marginally longer, 13 h 44, because it sits slightly further south.
How these timings are calculated
The schedule above follows the Muslim World League method, placing the sun 18° below the horizon at dawn and 17° at nightfall. Imsak is shown ten minutes before fajr, which falls at 05:29 in Dodoma on the first morning of the month.
Mosque calendars in Tanzania may vary by several minutes from these figures. Local committees often add their own precautionary margins, so the timetable displayed at the neighbourhood mosque, or the adhan itself, remains the most reliable signal for suhoor and iftar.
Moon sighting and the role of BAKWATA
The start of the month on the mainland is announced through BAKWATA, the National Muslim Council of Tanzania, and the Mufti of Tanzania, while Zanzibar has its own Mufti. Communities sometimes begin on different days, depending on which sighting they follow.
Futari dishes and evening life
Futari, the evening meal, typically opens with dates and water, followed by porridge known as uji, cassava or sweet potatoes cooked in coconut milk, mandazi doughnuts and spiced tea. Grilled meat and pilau often follow after maghrib prayer.
On Zanzibar, the evenings in Stone Town come alive after prayer, and the food stalls of the Forodhani Gardens draw crowds along the waterfront. On the mainland coast, families visit neighbours and exchange dishes during the hours between iftar and tarawih.
Heat, rain and daily rhythm
February is among the hottest months on the coast, with heavy humidity in Dar es Salaam, while the central plateau around Dodoma is drier and a little milder. The long rains usually start around March, cooling evenings toward the end of Ramadan.
Key dates for Ramadan 1448 in Tanzania
Tarawih should begin on the night of Sunday 7 February 2027, subject to the moon sighting. Laylat al-Qadr is expected on the evening of Friday 5 March, and Eid al-Fitr, called Idd el-Fitr, on Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March.
Useful tips for fasting in Tanzania
The coastal humidity drains energy faster than the length of the fast suggests. Rehydrating carefully between futari and suhoor, avoiding heavy fried food late at night and resting during the hottest hours help most people through the month.
- In Dar es Salaam, expect iftar about 13 minutes before Dodoma.
- Drink coconut water or plain water through the evening.
- Keep an umbrella ready once the March rains arrive.
- Confirm the Eid date with the local mosque committee.
What time is iftar in Dodoma on the first day?
On Monday 8 February 2027, the expected first day, Dodoma is due to break the fast at 19:01, with imsak at 05:19. The fast then shortens gradually, and the expected last day, Monday 8 March, ends at 18:53.
Is Eid al-Fitr a public holiday in Tanzania?
Yes. Idd el-Fitr is an official public holiday in Tanzania, on the mainland as well as in Zanzibar. Its exact date in March 2027 depends on the crescent sighting announced at the end of the month of fasting.
Why are Zanzibar and the mainland sometimes a day apart?
Zanzibar's religious authorities and those of the mainland issue separate announcements, and they do not always rely on the same sighting. A one-day gap at the start or end of Ramadan has occurred, so local guidance should always be checked.