Key takeaways:
- Ramadan 1448 is expected to start on Monday, 8 February 2027, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar and astronomical projections, with Eid around 9 or 10 March. Official dates depend on the moon sighting.
- Start now: grow an opted-in list, get templates approved before the end of January, and build your number’s quality and messaging limits.
- The Meta rate card that applies during Ramadan is the one set on 1 January 2027, so check prices in early January before locking your budget.
“Ramadan is coming. When should I start preparing WhatsApp campaigns?” Now. Ramadan 2027 is expected in early February, so you have about three months. That is exactly the time you need to grow your subscriber list, approve templates and raise your sending limits without risking your number’s quality.
This guide is a timeline from November to after Eid, with an approximate cost in riyals. For the basics of seasonal campaigns, see our White Friday WhatsApp campaigns guide. Here we focus on what is different about Ramadan.
When does Ramadan 2027 start, and which dates matter for campaigns?
| Approximate date | Occasion | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | Possible Meta rate change | Check marketing message prices before approving the budget |
| Mid to late January | Two to three weeks before Ramadan | Get all templates approved and test them on your team |
| First week of February | Households stock up for Ramadan | Ramadan grocery offers and pre-orders |
| 8 February 2027 (expected) | First day of Ramadan | A short greeting and your new opening hours |
| Around 27 February | Start of the last ten nights | Eid gifts, Eid outfits, salon bookings |
| 9 or 10 March 2027 (expected) | Eid al-Fitr | Last delivery date before Eid, then greetings and thanks |
All dates are approximate and depend on the official moon-sighting announcement, so keep your templates flexible and avoid fixed dates in them.
What should I prepare now for Ramadan campaigns?
- November and December: grow your list with consent. Add a WhatsApp link and QR code to checkout, invoices and boxes, and ask customers to opt in to offers. Messaging people who didn’t agree hurts your number’s reputation and can put you at odds with Saudi data protection law.
- December: raise your messaging limit gradually. New business portfolios start at 250 unique customers per 24 hours, and Meta raises that to 2,000, then 10,000, then 100,000 based on quality and volume. Message engaged customers now instead of hitting the limit on day one of Ramadan.
- January: write and approve templates. One per stage: Ramadan groceries, last ten nights, Eid reminder, last delivery date. Separate marketing from utility templates, because the category sets the price.
- Early January: check the rate card. Meta can change prices only on the first day of a quarter, so the rates published on 1 January are what you will pay during Ramadan.
- Early February: prepare for the rush. In Ramadan most questions arrive after iftar and late at night. Update your hours in the welcome message and prepare answers on delivery times and bookings.
- After Eid: thank and review. Send a thank-you to buyers, ask for a review, and clean out numbers that never engage.
How much does a Ramadan WhatsApp campaign cost?
Under Meta’s current rate card in Saudi Arabia, a marketing message is about SAR 0.22 and a utility message (order confirmation, shipping update) is about SAR 0.04. Replies inside the 24-hour window: the first 1,000 a month per number carry no fee, then about SAR 0.04 each.
Example for a store with 4,000 opted-in subscribers:
- 3 marketing messages over the season (groceries, last ten nights, Eid): 4,000 × 3 = 12,000 messages × 0.2159 = about SAR 2,591.
- 800 orders with two messages each (confirmation and shipping): 1,600 × 0.0401 = about SAR 64.
- Total: about SAR 2,655 in Meta fees, before replies beyond the first 1,000.
These figures use the October 2026 rate card and may change on 1 January 2027. Run your own numbers in the WhatsApp cost calculator, and see the details in our October 2026 WhatsApp pricing guide.
What should I send in Ramadan for my type of business?
- Stores: Ramadan groceries, hosting sets, Eid gifts and the last delivery date before Eid.
- Restaurants: iftar and suhoor pre-orders, family and corporate gatherings.
- Salons: last-ten-nights and Eid-eve bookings with a deposit, plus a waitlist for busy slots.
- Clinics: Ramadan opening hours and appointment reminders, with no medical advice in messages.
- Real estate: viewings after taraweeh and post-Eid offers.
Keep the count low: three or four marketing messages for the whole season beat one a day. Avoid iftar and prayer times, and make the opt-out clear in every template. More in our guide to WhatsApp broadcasts without getting banned.
A flexible marketing template that works any day: “Ramadan Kareem, {{1}}. Our Ramadan essentials are in, with delivery before iftar. Want us to send the list? Reply STOP to opt out.” Short, personal, with a question that opens the chat and a clear opt-out. When the customer replies, a 24-hour window opens and you close the sale in the chat.
How Watsio helps
Watsio connects your number to the official WhatsApp platform, so you send campaigns with Meta-approved templates. Meta bills its fees to you directly and Watsio adds no margin. On Ramadan nights, the AI assistant answers questions in the customer’s dialect around the clock and hands off to staff when needed. Bookings, deposits and waitlists come with Lite (SAR 79 a month before VAT), and Salla and Zid integration plus abandoned-cart recovery start with Starter (SAR 199 a month before VAT). See Watsio for shops.
Related reading: WhatsApp message templates guide and PDPL and WhatsApp marketing in Saudi Arabia. You can also see Watsio plans and pricing and try it free for 14 days, no card needed.
Frequently asked questions
When does Ramadan 2027 start in Saudi Arabia?
It is expected to start on Monday, 8 February 2027, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar and astronomical projections. The official date depends on the moon sighting.
When should I start preparing a Ramadan WhatsApp campaign?
In November and December. You need time to grow an opted-in list, raise your messaging limits and get templates approved before the end of January.
How much is a marketing message during Ramadan?
Under Meta’s current rate card it is about SAR 0.22 per message in Saudi Arabia, but Meta can change prices on 1 January 2027, so check before approving your budget.
How many marketing messages should I send in Ramadan?
Three or four for the whole season works best, for example groceries, the last ten nights and Eid, with a clear opt-out in every message.
Should I put the Eid date in my template?
Better not. Dates depend on the moon sighting, so use flexible wording such as before Eid or last delivery date.
Sources
- The National: expected Ramadan 2027 and Eid al-Fitr dates
- Meta for Developers: WhatsApp Business Platform pricing
- Meta for Developers: messaging limits
Last updated: November 2026 · Watsio team.
