Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027 in the UK, subject to moon sighting. Here are the key dates: the last ten nights, the odd nights for Laylat al-Qadr, Eid al-Fitr, UK fasting hours and how to plan a Ramadan Umrah.
Ramadan 1448 AH is expected to begin in the UK on **Monday 8 February 2027**, with the first Tarawih prayer on the evening of Sunday 7 February. As always, the exact start depends on the sighting of the new moon, so some UK mosques may begin on Tuesday 9 February. Below you will find every date you need to plan around: the first fast, the last ten nights, the odd nights in which Muslims seek Laylat al-Qadr, Eid al-Fitr, how long the fasts will be in Britain, and what to know if you are hoping to perform Umrah during the blessed month.
When does Ramadan 2027 start in the UK?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and each lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. That is why Ramadan moves earlier every year: it began around 18 February in 2026 and is expected around 8 February in 2027. The Umm al-Qura calendar used in Saudi Arabia, together with astronomical calculations, places 1 Ramadan 1448 on Monday 8 February 2027. The moon will be looked for on the evening of Sunday 7 February (29 Sha'ban). If it is seen, or if Sha'ban completes 30 days that evening, Muslims begin fasting the next morning. In the UK there is no single authority. Some mosques follow the Saudi announcement, some follow a local or regional sighting, and some follow calculation or the nearest Muslim country. In practice this means your local mosque may start on Monday 8 or Tuesday 9 February. Check your mosque's Ramadan timetable in late January, and keep both dates in mind when you book leave or travel.
Ramadan 2027 key dates (expected)
Subject to moon sighting; dates may shift by one day
How long will the fasts be in the UK?
Because Ramadan 2027 falls in February and early March, British Muslims will have some of the shortest fasts in decades. In London, the first fasts run from Fajr at around 5:40am to Maghrib at around 5:10pm, roughly 11 to 11.5 hours. By the end of the month the days lengthen to around 12.5 to 13 hours. Cities further north, such as Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow, have slightly different times, so always use your local mosque's timetable rather than a national average. The clocks do not go forward until Sunday 28 March 2027, after Eid, so there is no mid-month time change to plan around. The flip side of a winter Ramadan is the cold: suhoor will be in the dark, and Tarawih walks home will be chilly, so plan warm layers, especially for children and elderly relatives.
When is Laylat al-Qadr 2027?
Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, is better than a thousand months, and the Prophet ﷺ told us to seek it in the odd nights of the last ten. Islamic nights begin at sunset, so each odd night starts on the evening before the matching day of Ramadan. If Ramadan starts on Monday 8 February, the odd nights fall on these evenings: - 21st night: Saturday 27 February - 23rd night: Monday 1 March - 25th night: Wednesday 3 March - 27th night: Friday 5 March - 29th night: Sunday 7 March If your mosque starts on Tuesday 9 February, move each date one day later. Many Muslims hope especially for the 27th night, but the scholars advise seeking Laylat al-Qadr across all of the last ten nights rather than relying on a single date.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2027?
Eid al-Fitr marks the first day of Shawwal. If Ramadan lasts 29 days, Eid will be on Tuesday 9 March 2027; if it completes 30 days, Eid will be on Wednesday 10 March 2027. Most UK employers and schools will not know the exact day in advance, so request both days off if you can. Remember to pay Zakat al-Fitr before the Eid prayer; most UK mosques and charities publish a per-person amount in February.
Planning Umrah in Ramadan 2027 from the UK
The Prophet ﷺ said that Umrah in Ramadan is equal in reward to Hajj (Bukhari and Muslim), which is why Ramadan is the busiest and most expensive Umrah season of the year. A few practical points for UK pilgrims: Choose your ten days. The last ten nights are the peak: hotels within walking distance of Masjid al-Haram often cost several times their normal rate, and flights in the final week of February sell out early from all the main UK airports. If you are flying from London, Manchester or Birmingham, compare departure dates as early as possible. The first twenty days are noticeably calmer and cheaper, and you still receive the reward of Umrah in Ramadan. Half-term helps families. Most English councils' February half-term falls in mid-February, inside the first third of Ramadan. Check your council's dates; a half-term trip is often the best value for families with school-age children. Permits matter more in Ramadan. Every pilgrim needs an Umrah permit in the Nusuk app, and slots for the Rawdah in Madinah are much harder to get. Book your permit as soon as your visa is issued. Book early. Ramadan departures are usually the first to fill. You can compare options on our Ramadan Umrah 2027 page, see all Umrah packages from the UK, or read how Ramadan compares with other months in our guide to the best time for Umrah. Our guide on how to book the Rawdah in Nusuk explains the rules and the instant route. If you hold a UK passport, our guide to the Umrah visa from the UK compares the ETA, the e-Visa and the visa waiver. Our guide to Umrah flights from the UK compares direct and connecting routes.
“Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj.”
A Ramadan Umrah checklist
- Passport: valid for at least six months from your travel date. - Visa and permit: your Saudi visa first, then the Umrah permit in Nusuk for your chosen date. - Hotel distance: in Ramadan you will walk to the Haram several times a night, so a hotel close to the Haram matters more than a star rating. - Iftar and suhoor: check whether your hotel includes them; restaurants near the Haram are extremely busy at Maghrib. - Ihram on the plane: flights from the UK pass the miqat before landing in Jeddah, so change before take-off. - Eid plans: if you stay for Eid in Makkah, book your return flight for after 10 March to allow for a 30-day month. Use our Umrah checklist and packing list so nothing is forgotten.
Frequently asked questions
Will the UK start Ramadan on the same day as Saudi Arabia? Many UK mosques do, but not all. Expect most communities to begin on Monday 8 February, with some starting on Tuesday 9 February. Is Ramadan 2027 in February? Yes. It is expected to run from about 8 February to 8 or 9 March 2027. When will Ramadan be in 2028? Around 28 January 2028, about 11 days earlier than in 2027. Can I perform Umrah in the last ten nights from the UK? Yes, but book flights, hotels and your Nusuk permit as early as possible, ideally by November or December.
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