Islamic Hijri Calendar
Check today's Hijri date, browse each Islamic month with Gregorian dates, and see when Ramadan, Eid and the Hajj days are coming up.
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Using the Hijri calendar for your Umrah plans
The Islamic calendar follows the moon, so its months move about ten or eleven days earlier each year against the Gregorian calendar. This matters when you plan Umrah, because the same Islamic month falls in a different season each year. Ramadan, for example, can fall in winter or summer, which changes the weather, the crowds and how early Fajr is.
Busy and quiet times
Ramadan and the last ten nights draw the largest crowds at both holy mosques, and many pilgrims perform Umrah then. The weeks around Eid and the school holidays in many countries are also busy. Outside those periods, travel is generally easier. If your dates are during a busy period, book your hotel and your airport and intercity transfers early.
Key dates to know
- 1 Muharram marks the Islamic New Year.
- 1 Ramadan begins the month of fasting, and 1 Shawwal is Eid al-Fitr.
- 9 Dhul Hijjah is the Day of Arafah and 10 Dhul Hijjah is Eid al-Adha, during the Hajj season.
Common questions
Which Hijri calendar does this use?
It uses the Umm al-Qura calendar, which is the official civil calendar of Saudi Arabia. It is calculated in your browser.
Why might the date differ by a day elsewhere?
Many places start a month based on moon sighting, so the start of Ramadan or Eid can fall a day earlier or later than the Umm al-Qura date.
When is the best time to plan Umrah?
Umrah can be performed all year. Ramadan, the school holidays and the weeks before Hajj are the busiest. Quieter months make for easier travel and lower demand for transport.
Need transport for your Umrah?
BestWay Transport provides private taxis, vans and buses between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah at fixed prices.
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