Ramadan in Singapore: When It Is and How the Month Works

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the month of fasting, the run-up to Hari Raya Puasa (Aidilfitri). Most calendars just mark its start and end, but the month has a shape worth understanding, and it sets a few deadlines that catch people out.

When Ramadan falls

Like all Islamic months, Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so it moves about 11 days earlier each year. In 2027 it begins in February, roughly a month before Hari Raya Puasa.

Singapore does not fix the start by naked-eye moon-sighting. MUIS uses a calculated method called Imkan ar-Rukyah (the possibility of visible moon-sighting), the MABIMS criteria: at sunset on the 29th, the new moon must clear about 3° of altitude and 6.4° of elongation. Because it is calculated, the date can be announced ahead rather than waiting for the night. The when-is-Hari-Raya guide explains this in full, and the gazetted Aidilfitri date is on the 2027 page.

The daily rhythm

For the whole month, observing Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, no food or drink during daylight. The day is built around two meals and the prayers:

Sahur — the pre-dawn meal, before the fast begins at the break of dawn (Subuh).
Iftar — breaking the fast at sunset (Maghrib), traditionally with dates and water first.
Tarawih — special night prayers performed in congregation at mosques through Ramadan.

The exact sahur and iftar times change daily and by location, so use a dedicated prayer-times source for those. They are not the same as the holiday date. Not everyone fasts: certain groups such as young children, the elderly, the unwell, travellers, and pregnant or nursing mothers are exempt, and MUIS or a religious teacher is the source for who and how. This guide does not give rulings.

What it looks like in Singapore

Ramadan is visible across the city, not only in the mosques:

Bazaars run in the weeks leading up to Hari Raya, the largest at Geylang Serai, with others around Kampong Gelam and the heartlands. They come alive after iftar and sell food, drinks, clothes and decorations late into the night.
Workplaces and schools continue as normal, though colleagues who are fasting may shift meal breaks and skip lunch. A simple "Selamat berpuasa" is a kind thing to say.
Mosques hold nightly Tarawih and often community iftars, and they are busiest in the final stretch.

The last ten nights

The final ten nights of Ramadan are the most significant, because they contain Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power), whose exact night is not fixed. Many increase their worship and charity in this stretch, the mosques are at their fullest, and it is when a lot of people choose to complete their obligations before the month ends. There is more in the Laylatul Qadr guide.

What comes due before Aidilfitri

This is the practical part people miss. Zakat Fitrah, a small obligatory contribution for every person, must be paid before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayer, not merely "during Ramadan." It can be paid from the first day of Ramadan, and paying early is encouraged so it is not forgotten in the last-minute rush. How much it is (MUIS sets the rate each year) and where to pay is covered in the Zakat Fitrah guide.

Common questions

When does Ramadan 2027 start in Singapore? Around mid-February 2027, roughly a month before Hari Raya Puasa. The exact first day is determined by MUIS; treat any date shown far ahead as a projection.

Do non-Muslims need to do anything? No. It helps to be considerate around fasting colleagues, and the bazaars are open to everyone.

When do the Ramadan bazaars run? Through the weeks before Hari Raya, usually busiest in the evenings after iftar. Geylang Serai is the best known.

Is the start of Ramadan a public holiday? No. Ramadan itself is not a holiday; the gazetted public holiday is Hari Raya Puasa at the end of the month.

For rulings, timings and anything authoritative, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) is the source. This guide is a plain-English overview, not a religious ruling.