Convert between Hijri and Gregorian dates using the official Umm al-Qura calendar — the calendar used on all Saudi government documents, Iqama, visas and official correspondence.
Umm al-Qura calendar · Official Saudi Arabia standard
Umm al-Qura · Saudi Arabia · Names, meanings & significance
| # | Arabic | Name | Sacred? | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | محرم | Muharram | Sacred | Islamic New Year · Day of Ashura (10th) — recommended fasting |
| 2 | صفر | Safar | — | Second month of the Hijri calendar |
| 3 | ربيع الأول | Rabi' al-Awwal | — | Third month of the Hijri calendar |
| 4 | ربيع الثاني | Rabi' al-Thani | — | Fourth month of the Hijri calendar |
| 5 | جمادى الأولى | Jumada al-Ula | — | Fifth month — part of the 'frozen' winter months |
| 6 | جمادى الآخرة | Jumada al-Akhirah | — | Sixth month — end of winter period |
| 7 | رجب | Rajab | Sacred | One of the four sacred months |
| 8 | شعبان | Sha'ban | — | Month preceding Ramadan |
| 9 | رمضان | Ramadan | — | Holy month of fasting · Laylat al-Qadr |
| 10 | شوال | Shawwal | — | Eid al-Fitr · Six days fasting (Sunnah) |
| 11 | ذو القعدة | Dhu al-Qi'dah | Sacred | Sacred month · Traditional pilgrimage travel period |
| 12 | ذو الحجة | Dhu al-Hijjah | Sacred | Hajj (8–12) · Day of Arafah (9) · Eid al-Adha (10) |
Umm al-Qura · Saudi Arabia
| Event | Hijri Date | Gregorian | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramadan begins (1447 AH) | 1 Ramadan 1447 | 18 Feb 2026* | Fasting |
| Eid al-Fitr | 1 Shawwal 1447 | 20 Mar 2026* | Public Holiday |
| Day of Arafah | 9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 | 26 May 2026* | Hajj |
| Eid al-Adha | 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 | 27 May 2026* | Public Holiday |
| Islamic New Year (1448 AH) | 1 Muharram 1448 | 16 Jun 2026 | Religious |
| Day of Ashura | 10 Muharram 1448 | 25 Jun 2026 | Fasting |
Umm al-Qura is the official civil Hijri calendar used by the Saudi government for legal documents, payroll, school schedules and administration.
Unlike observational calendars, Umm al-Qura uses pre-calculated astronomical data centred on Mecca — no physical moon sighting needed for civil use.
Iqama issue/expiry, employment contracts, court documents, and Ministry letters all use Umm al-Qura Hijri dates.
For Ramadan and the two Eids, Saudi Arabia follows official moon sighting — which may differ by 1 day from the pre-calculation.
The Islamic Hijri calendar is a purely lunar calendar. Each month begins with the new lunar cycle and lasts 29 or 30 days. A Hijri year has 354 or 355 days — about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year. This is why Islamic months shift gradually through the seasons: Ramadan falls about 10–11 days earlier each year.
There are several Hijri systems in use worldwide — observational (moon sighting), Umm al-Qura, the Diyanet system in Turkey and others. They can differ by 1–2 days. For Saudi official documents, always use the Umm al-Qura system — which is what this converter uses exclusively.
It is the official Hijri calendar used by the Saudi government for civil and administrative purposes. Instead of physical moon sighting, it uses pre-calculated astronomical data centred on Mecca, making dates predictable and consistent for legal documents and planning.
Your Iqama uses the Umm al-Qura system — the official Saudi standard. Other apps may use observational or Diyanet methods, which can differ by 1–2 days. Always use Umm al-Qura when verifying Saudi documents (this converter uses it).
Not always. The official start of Ramadan and the two Eids is confirmed by the Saudi Supreme Court after moon sighting, which can differ by 1 day from the astronomical calculation. For civil documents use Umm al-Qura; for religious observance follow the official announcement.
Switch to "Hijri → Gregorian" mode, enter the day, month and year (AH) shown on your Iqama, then click Convert. Read the Hijri date carefully — day first, then month name, then year.
A standard Hijri year has 354 days (12 lunar months of 29–30 days); some years have 355. This is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, which is why Islamic dates shift earlier each year.
In early 2026 we are in 1447 AH. The Islamic New Year 1448 AH begins around 16 June 2026. The count started from the Prophet's migration (Hijra) in 622 CE.
Yes. This converter uses the official Umm al-Qura system — the same used by HRSD, Jawazat and Qiwa — so results are reliable for cross-referencing contracts, Iqama validity and visa documents.
Disclaimer: This converter uses the Umm al-Qura calendar — the official civil Hijri calendar of Saudi Arabia — via the browser's built-in Islamic calendar (Intl API). Results are accurate for dates between roughly 1356 AH (1937 CE) and 1500 AH (2077 CE). For Ramadan and the two Eids, always follow official Saudi announcements, which may differ by 1 day. Informational purposes only.
