Ramadan is one of the busiest times of the year across the Middle East. With many businesses operating on shorter working hours and a lot of people on holiday, logistics can face challenges during this period. Reduced operational hours, along with fewer staff available, can lead to delays and capacity issues. To ensure smooth operations, make sure that your supply chain and logistics are well-prepared to manage the demand during this time.
In this article, we’ll share our best tips to help you stay prepared during the holiday season.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and one of the holiest months for Muslims. During this time, many Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, refraining from food and drink, while focusing on prayer, reflection, charity, and community. The start and end dates of Ramadan are determined by the sighting of the new moon.
When does Ramadan start in 2026?
Since the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, Ramadan shifts about ten days earlier each year. Ramadan begins after Shaban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. In 2026, Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, with the first full day observed on Wednesday, February 18.
The exact dates may vary depending on local moon sightings.
When does Ramadan end in 2026?
Ramadan is expected to end on Thursday, March 19, 2026, with Eid al-Fitr celebrations starting immediately afterward (the first day of Shawwāl), depending on moon sightings in each location.
What is Eid Mubarak?
Eid Mubarak is a traditional greeting meaning “Blessed Eid.” It’s shared during Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
Eid is a time for celebration and togetherness, often marked by:
- Special prayers
- Family gatherings
- Festive meals and sweets
- Gift-giving and charity
Optimizing Shipping Operations During Ramadan and Eid Mubarak
Now that we’ve covered the basics of Ramadan and Eid, let’s focus on what you need to know for your business.
Ensure Timely Shipping
While working hours and business activities slow down during Ramadan, consumer demand typically rises sharply. For shippers, this makes it crucial to avoid stock shortages, which can quickly lead to lost customers and revenue.
If you’re using sea freight (LCL or FCL) for international shipments to Ramadan-observing countries, planning ahead is essential.
Planning should start two to three weeks prior to Ramadan to avoid issues like port congestion, capacity shortages, and costly delays,” says Mayur Karekar, Business Development Manager at Bertling.
Without proper planning, your cargo may not make it to port in time, causing disruptions.
While air freight typically is faster, early planning is still recommended due to the increased volumes and capacity constraints during this period. People assume air freight is ‘instant’. But during ramadan the bottleneck is rarely aircraft, it everything after that happened after the flight.
Air freight may seem faster, but issues like heavy traffic between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. or missed cut-off times can still lead to delays,” adds Karekar.
Don’t plan for the best-case scenario
Plan for the worst-case and be pleasantly surprised.
Why Shipping in Advance Matters
- Secure sufficient market inventory: Shipping early ensures products are available when demand peaks. With increased purchasing activity in Middle Eastern markets during Ramadan, running out of stock can be costly.
- Shorter customs clearance hours: Customs authorities often operate reduced hours during Ramadan, which can slow down port clearance and create bottlenecks.
- Reduced business operations: Logistics providers, customs brokers, shipping lines, and agents typically work fewer hours during Ramadan, leading to backlogs and delays.
- Higher freight rates: As more businesses rush to serve Ramadan markets, competition for space on vessels, aircraft, and trucks increases and drives up the shipping rates.
- Risk of demurrage, damage, and delays: Shorter customs hours can extend cargo dwell times, potentially leading to demurrage charges, damaged goods, or delayed deliveries.
Build a Smart Inventory Storage Strategy
If you’ve shipped early, good job, the next step is ensuring you can store and distribute inventory efficiently.
With faster product turnover during Ramadan, partnering with a warehousing provider who supports rapid storage, distribution, and reverse logistics becomes critical. You may also need temporary additional warehouse space to handle seasonal volume spikes.
Why You Need a Solid Inventory Plan
- Maintain product availability: A clear inventory strategy ensures the right stock is in the right place at the right time, reducing the risk of losing sales to competitors.
- Streamline distribution and returns: Third-party warehouse providers bring the infrastructure and expertise needed to handle increased order volumes and returns efficiently.
- Protect customer satisfaction: While minor delays can be expected during Ramadan, prolonged delivery issues can harm your brand. In today’s competitive retail and e-commerce landscape, reliable fulfillment is key to keeping customers happy.
The key to managing logistics during Ramadan is having clarity, consistency, and commitment. If everyone communicates clearly and is aligned on the plan, everything will run smoothly,” concludes Karekar.