# Travelling in Oman during Ramadan 2027: dates and etiquette

Ramadan 2027 is expected to run in Oman from about 8 February to 8 March, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March; exact dates depend on Oman's own sighting of the new moon. Visitors do not fast, but eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during daylight hours is prohibited, including in your car, and outside hotels restaurants and shops close until sunset.

Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/guides/ramadan-oman/

Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin in Oman **around Monday 8 February 2027** and end **around 8 March**, ahead of Eid al-Fitr on 9 or 10 March. It falls in the middle of the tourist season, with mild weather on the coast and in the mountains. Oman observes the month devoutly. Visitors adapt easily, provided they know a few rules that carry the force of law.

## The 2027 dates

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows the moon and moves forward by about eleven days each year against the Western calendar. The month lasts 29 or 30 days.

| Milestone | Estimated date |
|---|---|
| First day of fasting | Monday 8 February 2027 |
| Last day of fasting | Monday 8 March 2027 |
| Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the fast | Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March 2027 |

These dates are the UAE Astronomy Centre's forecasts, published by the Khaleej Times. Oman sets its own dates by its own sighting of the crescent moon, sometimes a day after the UAE, and announces them the evening before. If your trip straddles the start or end of the month, build in a day of flexibility. Our pages on [Ramadan 2027 in Oman](/en/events/ramadan-oman-2027/) and [Eid al-Fitr 2027](/en/events/aid-al-fitr-oman-2027/) follow the official announcements.

## What is prohibited in public

Fasting is for Muslims, but the rules of behaviour apply to everyone. During daylight hours, from sunrise to sunset, visitors and residents alike must not:

- **eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public**, including in a car;
- **play loud music or dance**;
- **swear in public**.

These rules are set out by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) and by Germany's foreign office, the Auswärtiges Amt, which stresses that they also apply to non-Muslims. France Diplomatie, the French foreign ministry's travel advice service, asks travellers to be especially careful to respect local customs during the month.

**Dress.** According to Germany, a decree from the Ministry of Religious Affairs requires modest clothing that covers the body. The rest of the year, the rule is already shoulders and knees covered in public places, for men and women alike; during Ramadan, clothing that falls short causes more offence, the FCDO notes. Swimwear remains for tourist beaches and pools.

## How the day changes

Belgium's foreign ministry describes Ramadan in Oman as observed "strictly and intensely": **shops stay closed until sunset** and people live mainly at night. Other governments say the same:

- **Restaurants outside hotels close during the day**, and government offices work shorter hours.
- **In hotels**, meals are served to guests who are not fasting. Restaurants open in the daytime sometimes screen these guests off from Muslim diners.
- **Opening hours** of shops, restaurants and sights change: the FCDO suggests checking locally with your hotel or guide.
- **Fasting can cause tiredness**, especially in the late afternoon and early evening, says the FCDO, so take extra care on the road at that time, and be patient in general.

The sun sets in Muscat at **around 5.55 pm at the start of the month and around 6.10 pm at the end**, local time; Oman is then 4 hours ahead of London. The fast is broken with iftar at sunset, and life carries on late into the night.

## Planning your stay

Ramadan mainly calls for a little planning:

- **Have lunch at your hotel**, and only eat or drink indoors and out of sight: a car counts as a public place.
- **Sightsee in the morning**, before the afternoon tiredness sets in, and keep the end of the day for the hotel pool.
- **For alcohol**, which is only served in licensed hotels and restaurants the rest of the year, ask your hotel before booking what it offers during the month.

## The weather in February and March

Ramadan 2027 falls at the best time of year to visit northern Oman. In Muscat, average highs are 26°C in February and 30°C in March, and the sea is around 24°C. On the Saiq plateau on [Jebel Akhdar](/en/oman/jebel-akhdar/), highs are 13 to 17°C with cold nights, ideal for [hiking in the Hajar mountains](/en/guides/randonnee-hajar/). The [Wahiba Sands](/en/oman/wahiba-sands/) are in season until April.

It is also the tail end of the flash-flood period in the wadis, from October to March: our guide to [wadis, swimming and flash floods](/en/guides/wadis-oman/) covers the precautions.

## Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fast, probably on 9 or 10 March 2027. It is a national holiday, with dates announced separately by the government. If your stay coincides with Eid, check opening hours for sights and services, and book excursions early.

## Frequently asked questions

### When is Ramadan 2027 in Oman?

According to astronomical forecasts, from Monday 8 February to Monday 8 March 2027, with Eid al-Fitr on 9 or 10 March. Oman confirms the dates the evening before, after sighting the crescent moon.

### Do tourists have to fast in Oman?

No. But eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during daylight hours is prohibited, including in a car. Hotels serve meals as normal.

### Are restaurants open during Ramadan in Oman?

Hotel restaurants are. Others close during the day and open at sunset, as do most shops.

### What time is iftar in Muscat in 2027?

At sunset, around 5.55 pm local time at the start of the month and around 6.10 pm at the end.

### Should I avoid Oman during Ramadan?

Not necessarily: the weather is ideal and life picks up in the evening. You need to accept quieter days, shorter opening hours and more covered-up clothing.