When Is Rajab Month Started in Saudi Arabia? 10 Dec 2026 Essential Guide

By the Islamic Info Center editorial team. Last updated 16 October 2026. Reading time 11 minutes.

When is Rajab month started in Saudi Arabia? In the Umm al Qura calendar, the official calendar of the Kingdom, Rajab 1448 begins on Thursday 10 December 2026 and runs for 30 days, ending on Friday 8 January 2027. The previous Rajab, 1447, began on Sunday 21 December 2025 and ended on Monday 19 January 2026.

This guide answers the four questions people ask most: what is the first day of Rajab, which month is Rajab in 2026, what is the date of Rajab month, and what is the date of 26 Rajab in 2026. You will also learn how Saudi Arabia sets its months, why other countries can differ by a day, and how to use Rajab to prepare for Ramadan.

When Is Rajab Month Started in Saudi Arabia? Dates for 2026 and 2027

Saudi Arabia uses the Umm al Qura calendar, which is calculated in advance by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. Government offices, banks and civil records follow it, and it is the reference for Hijri dates in Makkah. The table below shows both recent Rajab months so you can see how the dates move.

What Is the First Day of Rajab?

The first day of Rajab is 1 Rajab, the opening day of the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. Rajab comes after Jumada al Akhirah and just before Shaban and Ramadan. The Hijri year is lunar, so each month begins with the new crescent and cannot stay on one Gregorian date from year to year.

First day of Rajab in Saudi Arabia

For Rajab 1448, the first day is Thursday 10 December 2026. Astronomers expect the new moon to be born on 9 December 2026 at 00:52 GMT, according to the UK Islamic Crescent Observations Council. Because that conjunction happens before sunset in Makkah, the Umm al Qura rules make 10 December the first day.

Groups that rely on naked eye sighting reached a different forecast. The same council expects the crescent to be hard to see on 9 December in the UK and Morocco region, so Rajab may start on 11 December in Morocco and 12 December in the UK. That gap of one to two days is normal and does not mean anyone is wrong.

When does the Islamic day begin?

An Islamic day begins at sunset, not at midnight. This means the night of 1 Rajab 1448 starts after Maghrib on Wednesday 9 December 2026, and the daytime of 1 Rajab is Thursday 10 December. Saudi civil systems change the date at midnight, while the religious day follows the sunset rule.

A simple example

Suppose you want to begin a Rajab dua routine on the very first night. You would start after Maghrib on Wednesday 9 December, not on Thursday evening. Knowing this small detail saves many people from starting a day late.

Which Month Is Rajab in 2026?

Rajab is the seventh month of the Hijri calendar, but in the Gregorian year 2026 it appears twice. Rajab 1447 covered the first 19 days of January 2026. Rajab 1448 then begins in December 2026 and continues into January 2027.

This happens because the Islamic year is about 354 or 355 days, roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. Each Islamic month therefore moves about 11 days earlier every year. Rajab began on 21 December 2025, then moves back to 10 December 2026, and will move back again to around 29 November 2027.

How to remember it

• Rajab is month 7 of 12 in the Hijri calendar.
• It follows Jumada al Akhirah and comes before Shaban.
• Ramadan begins roughly 60 days after Rajab starts.
• In 2026, think of two Rajabs: one in January and one in December.

What Is the Date of Rajab Month?

The date of Rajab month depends on the Hijri year you mean. For the current upcoming month, Rajab 1448 runs from 10 December 2026 to 8 January 2027 in Saudi Arabia. For the one that just passed, Rajab 1447 ran from 21 December 2025 to 19 January 2026.

The Umm al Qura calendar gives these months 30 days each. Jumada al Akhirah 1448 is calculated to start on 11 November 2026 and last 29 days, which leads straight into 1 Rajab on 10 December. Today the Rajab moon is roughly 55 days away.

What Is the Date of 26 Rajab in 2026?

In the 2026 Gregorian year, 26 Rajab fell on Thursday 15 January 2026 and belongs to Rajab 1447. The next one, 26 Rajab 1448, falls on Monday 4 January 2027, so it lands in 2027 and not in 2026.

People often search this date because 26 Rajab is the eve of 27 Rajab. Since the Islamic day starts at sunset, the night of 27 Rajab begins after Maghrib on the 26th. For Rajab 1448 that means Monday evening 4 January 2027.

The meaning of 27 Rajab

Many Muslim communities remember the Isra and Miraj, the Prophet's night journey from Makkah to the Al Aqsa Mosque and his ascension, on 27 Rajab. The event itself is firmly part of Islamic belief and is mentioned in the Quran. Classical sources, however, disagree on its exact date, and scholars note that 27 Rajab became popular later. You can read a balanced summary on the Rajab page of Wikipedia.

The safe approach is to honour the event through reflection on the Quran and the prayer that came from it, without treating the date as a fixed religious ruling. Saudi Arabia does not observe 27 Rajab as a public holiday.

How Saudi Arabia Decides the Start of Hijri Months

Saudi Arabia combines two systems. The Umm al Qura calendar is a calculated calendar used for civil life. For worship months that carry a ruling, the Supreme Court calls on people to look for the crescent and then announces the result.

Rajab and the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court usually calls for a moon sighting only for Ramadan, Shawwal and Dhul Hijjah, with an occasional call for Dhul Qadah. Earlier in 2026 it asked Muslims to look for the Ramadan crescent on Tuesday 17 February 2026, and later announced Eid al Fitr for Friday 20 March 2026 after no sighting was reported. Rajab does not normally have an official announcement, because Saudi Arabia follows Umm al Qura for it.

Why other countries differ

Countries use three main methods: local sighting, global sighting and astronomical calculation. In December 2025, for example, Saudi Arabia and the UAE began Rajab on Sunday 21 December, while several countries, including Nigeria, began it on Monday 22 December. Reports from Gulf News and Al Kanz show how the start date varied by country.

For a deeper explanation of the calendar itself, see the overview of the Islamic calendar and the official Umm al Qura calendar site. For Saudi announcements, follow the Saudi Press Agency.

Why Rajab Matters in Islam

Rajab is one of the four sacred months, along with Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram. Allah mentions these months in the Quran, saying that the year has twelve months and four of them are sacred. You can read the verse and its meaning at Quran 9:36.

A well known hadith narrated by Abu Bakrah in Sahih al Bukhari lists the four sacred months and describes Rajab as the one between Jumada and Shaban. In these months, wrongdoing is considered even more serious, and good deeds are especially encouraged.

What scholars say about worship in Rajab

Many hadith scholars point out that no authentic text gives a special fixed reward for a specific fast, prayer or night in Rajab. A popular supplication asking Allah to bless us in Rajab and Shaban is graded weak by many scholars. This does not make Rajab less valuable. It means we should worship in ways that are clearly established.

• Voluntary fasting: Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays and on the white days is recommended in every month.
• Quran: Set a daily page or juz target before Ramadan.
• Repentance and charity: Clear old debts, make up missed fasts and give regularly.
• Avoid innovations: Do not invent special prayers or rituals for Rajab without proof.

Practical Plan: Using Rajab 1448 to Prepare for Ramadan

Rajab begins the countdown. If Rajab and Shaban each last 30 days, Ramadan starts on Monday 8 February 2027, as the Umm al Qura calendar shows. That gives you almost exactly 60 days from 1 Rajab.

A simple 60 day timeline

• Thursday 10 December 2026: 1 Rajab. Set your goals and clear missed fasts.
• 22 to 24 December 2026: White days of Rajab. Fast if you are able.
• Tuesday 5 January 2027: 27 Rajab. Reflect on the Isra and Miraj and the gift of prayer.
• Saturday 9 January 2027: 1 Shaban begins if Rajab completes 30 days.
• Monday 8 February 2027: Expected first day of Ramadan.

Example for a busy worker

Aisha works from 8 AM to 4 PM. In Rajab she keeps one Quran page after Fajr, fasts two Mondays, and sets aside time each Friday to review her charity plan. By Shaban she is ready to add Taraweeh and a longer Quran goal, so Ramadan feels familiar and not rushed.

Helpful guides for the next steps

Read more about the month in The Month of Rajab, The Month of Shaban and our list of the twelve Islamic months. Plan ahead with our Ramadan Calendar 2027 and Ramadan Timetable 2027. Learn the basics in What Is Ramadan and our fasting guide. Prepare your night worship with Laylatul Qadr 2027 and Ramadan duas, and review daily prayer. If you live in Morocco, see the Fez Ramadan Calendar.

Common Confusions About the Rajab Start Date

• Mixing up Gregorian and Hijri years. 1447 and 1448 are Hijri years, so Rajab 1447 and Rajab 1448 are different months, even though both touch the 2026 calendar year.
• Using a calendar from another country. An app set to Pakistan, India or Morocco may show a date one day later than Saudi Arabia.
• Counting from midnight. The religious day begins at Maghrib, so the night comes first.
• Treating a forecast as final. Umm al Qura dates are calculated in advance, and local authorities can still confirm or adjust.

How We Prepared This Guide

The Islamic Info Center editorial team checked the Umm al Qura dates against several independent calendar sources, the astronomical forecast of the UK Islamic Crescent Observations Council and news reports of the Rajab 1447 start. We aim to explain differences openly and not to make misleading claims. If an official announcement changes any date, we will update this page and the last updated line at the top.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

So, when is Rajab month started in Saudi Arabia? Rajab 1448 begins on Thursday 10 December 2026, with 26 Rajab on 4 January 2027 and 27 Rajab on 5 January 2027. Rajab 1447 began on 21 December 2025, which is why 26 Rajab in 2026 fell on 15 January.

Save these dates, check the official announcement near the time, and use Rajab to build calm, steady habits before Ramadan. May Allah bless you in the sacred months and allow us to reach Ramadan in good health and faith.