UAE to Witness Rare Calendar Event in 2030 as Ramadan Falls Twice in One Year

DUBAI — The UAE is expected to witness a rare calendar event in 2030, when the holy month of Ramadan falls twice within the same Gregorian year. Based on astronomical calculations, the first Ramadan is projected to begin on January 5, while the second is expected to start on December 26.

Astronomers and Islamic scholars attribute the phenomenon to the difference between the Islamic lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar. Because the Islamic calendar runs about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, the start of Ramadan shifts earlier each year, and in 2030 that drift places the month at both the very start and the very end of the year.

The first occurrence corresponds to the Islamic year 1451 AH, and the second to 1452 AH. As a result, observers are expected to fast for a total of 36 days across the year — 30 days in January and a further six at the end of December.

“The year 2030 will witness the blessed month of Ramadan twice. The first will take place when Ramadan starts on January 5, 2030 for the Hijri year 1451, and then again, the month of Ramadan will start on December 26, 2030 for the Hijri year 1452,” said Ibrahim Al Jarwan, a member of the Arab Federation of Space and Astronomy Sciences.

A lunar year consists of 354 days, making it roughly 11 days shorter than a solar year. Over time, this difference causes the Islamic months to move through all four seasons in a cycle that repeats about every 33 years — which is why the experience of fasting changes with the years. When Ramadan falls in winter, daylight fasting hours are relatively short; in summer, they can stretch beyond 17 hours in some regions.

The double occurrence is uncommon but not unprecedented: the last time two Ramadans fell within a single Gregorian year was in 1997, and after 2030 the alignment is expected to recur in 2063.

While astronomical calculations can predict when Ramadan is likely to begin, the official start is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. In the UAE, the date is confirmed by the country's official Moon-Sighting Committee, while some other countries rely on visual observation or scientific methods to set their dates.