Arafat Day fasting timings for 2026 are among the most searched Islamic questions in the UAE right now. Arafat Day falls on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 — confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa following the official crescent moon sighting. The fast begins at Fajr — the first light of true dawn, when the sky begins to lighten on the horizon — and ends at Maghrib, the exact moment the sun sets. Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, is eaten before Fajr arrives. The fast itself does not start until Fajr.
Times in this article are drawn from the Khaleej Times official May 2026 prayer timetable, which uses the IACAD calculation method followed by all UAE mosques. They are approximate. Every section below tells you exactly where to go to confirm your own local time before you fast.
Arafat Day Fasting Timings 2026: When Does the Fast Begin and End?
The Arafat Day fast begins at Fajr — the moment of true dawn, when the first light appears on the eastern horizon. This is the Islamic legal standard across all four major schools of jurisprudence: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali. Fajr is not the same as sunrise — it arrives roughly 90 minutes earlier, while the sky is still dark.
The fast ends at Maghrib — the exact moment the sun dips below the horizon. The adhan from your nearest mosque sounds Maghrib the moment sunset is confirmed. That call is your iftar signal.
Fajr is the actual start of the fast. Once Fajr time enters, eating and drinking stop.
Imsak is a Ramadan-specific precautionary marker — typically 10 minutes before Fajr — used as a “stop eating” warning during the holy month. It is not a religious obligation and does not apply to the Arafat Day fast. The fast starts at Fajr, not at Imsak.
On 26 May 2026, Fajr arrives between approximately 3:59 AM and 4:07 AM across the UAE, depending on your emirate. Maghrib falls between approximately 7:03 PM and 7:10 PM. That is a fasting window of roughly 15 hours — one of the longest voluntary fasts of the year, in full UAE summer heat.
Who Sets the Arafat Day Fasting Timings in the UAE?
In the UAE, prayer times are not set by apps, websites, or individuals. Two official government authorities publish the legal standard — and every mosque in the country follows their figures.
Every UAE mosque — from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi to the smallest neighbourhood masjid in Fujairah — follows one of these two authorities. The adhan you hear from your local mosque is the most reliable and localised signal for Fajr and Maghrib. If the adhan sounds, the time has entered.
📌 The times in this article are calculated using the IACAD method but are drawn from Khaleej Times’ published timetable — not directly from IACAD or Awqaf. Use the links above to get the confirmed figure from the official authority for your emirate.
How to Find Your Exact Arafat Day Fasting Times by Emirate
Prayer times shift by a few minutes across the UAE because the seven emirates span roughly 150 km east to west. Fujairah on the Indian Ocean coast sees Fajr first; Abu Dhabi’s western areas see it last. Here is exactly how to find your confirmed local time.
If you live in Dubai
- The official authority is IACAD — Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department
- Website: iacad.gov.ae/en/prayer-times — shows live times for today
- App: Dulook DXB — the official IACAD prayer app, built with the International Astronomical Center. Available on iOS and Android. Updated daily. Sounds the adhan at the correct time.
- Mosque: the Fajr adhan from any Dubai mosque broadcasts the IACAD time
If you live in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain
- The official authority is Awqaf UAE — General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat
- Website: awqaf.gov.ae
- The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre also publishes confirmed Abu Dhabi city timings
- Mosque: the Fajr adhan from any Abu Dhabi or Al Ain mosque is your local signal
If you live in Sharjah, Ajman or Umm Al Quwain
- The official federal authority is Awqaf UAE: awqaf.gov.ae
- Sharjah additionally has its own Department of Islamic Affairs which publishes times for different zones including Al Dhaid and the eastern region
- Times in all three emirates run very close to Dubai — within 1–2 minutes
If you live in Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah
- The official authority is Awqaf UAE: awqaf.gov.ae
- Fujairah is the easternmost emirate in the UAE — it sees Fajr first, a few minutes ahead of Dubai
- Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate, follows very closely behind Fujairah
For any emirate — the simplest check
- Listen to the Fajr adhan from your nearest mosque. The mosque follows the official authority for your emirate. When the adhan calls, the time has entered.
Arafat Day Fasting Timings 2026 in Dubai
Dubai is the UAE’s most populous emirate and home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the Gulf. The official authority for all Dubai prayer times is IACAD — Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department.
Times above are drawn from the Khaleej Times May 2026 prayer timetable, which uses the IACAD calculation method. To confirm before you fast: check iacad.gov.ae or the Dulook DXB app — the official IACAD prayer app for Dubai.
These are our best estimates, not a direct IACAD publication. Always verify before you fast.
Arafat Day Fasting Timings 2026 in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s capital and westernmost major city — which means Fajr arrives slightly later here than in Dubai. The official authority for Abu Dhabi prayer times is Awqaf UAE.
Times above are drawn from the Khaleej Times May 2026 prayer timetable (IACAD method). To confirm before you fast: check awqaf.gov.ae. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre also publishes confirmed Abu Dhabi city timings.
These are our best estimates. Verify before you fast.
Arafat Day Fasting Timings 2026 in Sharjah
Sharjah sits directly east of Dubai and shares almost the same longitude — prayer times run within a minute of Dubai’s. The official federal authority is Awqaf UAE; Sharjah additionally has its own Department of Islamic Affairs which publishes emirate-specific timings.
Times drawn from Khaleej Times May 2026 timetable (IACAD method). To confirm before you fast: check awqaf.gov.ae. Sharjah residents may also check with the Department of Islamic Affairs in Sharjah for area-specific times including Al Dhaid and the eastern region.
These are our best estimates. Verify before you fast.
Arafat Day Fasting Timings 2026 in Ajman
Ajman is the UAE’s smallest emirate, nestled between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain — its prayer times run within a minute of Sharjah. The official authority is Awqaf UAE.
Times drawn from Khaleej Times May 2026 timetable (IACAD method). To confirm before you fast: check awqaf.gov.ae.
These are our best estimates. Verify before you fast.
Arafat Day Fasting Timings 2026 in Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is the UAE’s northernmost emirate — its geography puts it slightly east of Dubai, so Fajr arrives a couple of minutes earlier. The official authority is Awqaf UAE.
Times drawn from Khaleej Times May 2026 timetable (IACAD method). To confirm before you fast: check awqaf.gov.ae.
These are our best estimates. Verify before you fast.
Arafat Day Fasting Timings 2026 in Fujairah
Fujairah is the UAE’s easternmost emirate, facing the Indian Ocean — which means it sees Fajr before any other emirate. It is the only emirate on the Gulf of Oman coast. The official authority is Awqaf UAE.
Times drawn from Khaleej Times May 2026 timetable (IACAD method). To confirm before you fast: check awqaf.gov.ae.
These are our best estimates. Verify before you fast.
Arafat Day Fasting Timings 2026 in Al Ain
Al Ain is Abu Dhabi emirate’s inland city, situated near the Hajar Mountains. Its prayer times run close to Abu Dhabi with a slight variation. The official authority is Awqaf UAE.
Times drawn from Khaleej Times May 2026 timetable (IACAD method). To confirm before you fast: check awqaf.gov.ae.
These are our best estimates. Verify before you fast.
Arafat Day Fasting Timings — Full Table All UAE Cities
A quick reference for all seven emirates on 26 May 2026. Every time shown is approximate — drawn from Khaleej Times’ published timetable using the IACAD method. The official source for your emirate is linked in the final column.
How Long Is the Arafat Day Fast in UAE?
The Arafat Day fast in Dubai runs from Fajr at approximately 4:02 AM to Maghrib at approximately 7:05 PM — roughly 15 hours and 3 minutes. Late May in the UAE means long days and high temperatures already reaching 35–40°C.
This is one of the longest voluntary fasting windows of the year. The Arafat Day fast is not obligatory — it is a Sunnah fast, recommended but not required. Pilgrims performing Hajj at Mount Arafat do not fast on this day; they require their full strength for the Wuquf standing. For everyone else in the UAE, the fast is one of the most rewarding acts of worship available on this day.
The Spiritual Significance of the Arafat Day Fast
The Arafat Day fast is a Sunnah — a recommended act of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), not obligatory. The reward is exceptional. In Sahih Muslim — one of the most authoritative Hadith collections in Sunni Islam — the Prophet described the Arafat Day fast as expiation for the sins of the previous and coming year.
Pilgrims at Mount Arafat on Hajj do not fast — they need their full strength for the Wuquf standing. For everyone else — including the vast majority of Muslims in the UAE — the Arafat Day fast is one of the most rewarding acts of voluntary worship on this day. For the full spiritual context: Arafat Day 2026 UAE: Everything You Need to Know and Arafat Day Duas and Prayers in Arabic and English.
📌 We have done our best to present the spiritual significance of this day accurately. If your scholar or community follows a different tradition or interpretation, please follow their guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Arafat Day fast begin and end in UAE?
The Arafat Day fast begins at Fajr — the first light of true dawn — and ends at Maghrib, the exact moment of sunset. On 26 May 2026 in Dubai, Fajr is approximately 4:02 AM and Maghrib approximately 7:05 PM, giving a fasting window of around 15 hours. Times vary by 3–5 minutes across the seven emirates due to geography. Always verify with your emirate’s official authority: iacad.gov.ae for Dubai, awqaf.gov.ae for all other emirates.
What are the Arafat Day fasting timings in Dubai 2026?
The Arafat Day fasting timings in Dubai on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 are: Fajr (fast begins) at approximately 4:02 AM and Maghrib (fast ends) at approximately 7:05 PM, giving a fast duration of roughly 15 hours and 3 minutes. These times are drawn from Khaleej Times’ May 2026 prayer timetable, which uses the IACAD calculation method. To confirm, check iacad.gov.ae or the Dulook DXB app before you fast.
What are the Arafat Day fasting timings in Abu Dhabi 2026?
The Arafat Day fasting timings in Abu Dhabi on 26 May 2026 are: Fajr at approximately 4:06 AM and Maghrib at approximately 7:09 PM. Abu Dhabi sits further west than Dubai, so Fajr arrives around 4 minutes later. These are approximate times drawn from Khaleej Times’ published timetable. To confirm, check awqaf.gov.ae — the official authority for Abu Dhabi — before you fast.
How many hours is the Arafat Day fast in UAE?
The Arafat Day fast is approximately 15 hours across the UAE on 26 May 2026. Dubai: Fajr ~4:02 AM to Maghrib ~7:05 PM (~15h 03m). Abu Dhabi: ~4:06 AM to ~7:09 PM (~15h 03m). Fujairah has the earliest Fajr at ~3:59 AM. Al Ain has the latest Maghrib at ~7:10 PM. Late May means long summer days with temperatures reaching 35–40°C, making this one of the longest and most physically demanding voluntary fasts of the year.
Is the Arafat Day fast obligatory in Islam?
No. The Arafat Day fast is a Sunnah — a recommended but not obligatory act. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described it in Sahih Muslim as expiation for the sins of the previous and coming year. Pilgrims performing Hajj at Mount Arafat do not fast on this day; they need their full strength for the Wuquf standing. For everyone else, it is one of the most rewarding voluntary fasts in the Islamic calendar.
Where do I find the official Arafat Day fasting timings in UAE?
For Dubai: iacad.gov.ae (Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department) or the Dulook DXB app — the official IACAD prayer app. For Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, and Al Ain: awqaf.gov.ae (General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat). The simplest check for any UAE resident is the Fajr adhan from your nearest mosque — the call to prayer is the legal signal that the fast has begun.
Why do prayer apps show different Arafat Day times from the mosque?
Different apps use different astronomical calculation methods. The UAE officially uses the IACAD method, with a Fajr angle of 18.2°. Apps set to Umm al-Qura (Saudi Arabia), Muslim World League, or Egyptian methods show times that differ by 3–8 minutes. For UAE residents, only the IACAD method matches what every mosque loudspeaker broadcasts. Use iacad.gov.ae for Dubai and awqaf.gov.ae for all other emirates.
Do fasting times differ between UAE emirates on Arafat Day?
Yes — by up to 8 minutes. The UAE spans roughly 150 km east to west. Fujairah, the easternmost emirate on the Indian Ocean coast, sees Fajr first at approximately 3:59 AM. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, further west, see it latest at approximately 4:06–4:07 AM. Maghrib follows the same pattern. Each emirate has its own official authority: IACAD for Dubai, Awqaf UAE for all others.
Last updated: 25 May 2026. Times sourced from Khaleej Times official May 2026 prayer timetable (IACAD method).
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