A viral message is making the rounds again ahead of February 2026, claiming the month will be a once-in-a-lifetime calendar event — one that ‘only happens once in 823 years.’

The text is usually shared in group chats and social media captions with an urgent tone: February 2026 will have 4 Sundays, 4 Mondays, 4 Tuesdays… and so on, ending with the phrase ‘This is called MiracleIn.’ Some versions even add a superstition-style instruction to forward the message for ‘miracles.’

But fact-checkers and calendar experts say the claim is misleading, and the maths behind it is straightforward.

Why February 2026 isn’t rare

February 2026 has 28 days because 2026 is not a leap year. And a 28-day month is exactly four weeks (28 ÷ 7 = 4).

That means every weekday appears exactly four times in any standard February — which is the normal pattern, not a rare one.

AFP Fact Check has debunked nearly identical claims about February, explaining that in all non-leap years, February naturally contains four of each weekday.

Africa Check also reached the same conclusion, noting that the ‘823 years’ figure is recycled misinformation that resurfaces regularly, often rewritten with a new year.

Timeanddate.com, which has repeatedly tracked these calendar rumours, lists the February ‘MiracleIn’ message as a false viral claim and explains that the weekday pattern is simply what happens when February has 28 days.

What about the ‘MiracleIn’ part?

The term ‘MiracleIn’ has no recognised scientific or calendar meaning. One widely shared version also suggests February 2026 will include a 25-hour day, which fact-checkers say is not a global phenomenon.

In short: February 2026 is not a rare ‘miracle month.’ It’s a standard February — and the viral message is another recycled calendar myth dressed up as a once-in-centuries event.

GN

The Royal Commission for AlUla has announced the documentation and publication of a rare fossil discovery of horseshoe crabs dating back approximately 465 million years, following a peer-reviewed scientific study published in the geology journal Gondwana Research.

The discovery, published for the first time at a global level, strengthens AlUla’s standing as an international centre for geological and scientific research related to Earth’s history and biodiversity. The fossils were uncovered in the Gharameel Nature Reserve in AlUla.

Dating to the Middle Ordovician period, roughly between 485 and 444 million years ago, the fossils are among the oldest known horseshoe crab specimens worldwide. They are distinguished by their unusually large size compared with other species from the same era. All specimens were found preserved upside down, a mode of fossilisation not previously recorded, alongside trace fossils indicating attempts by the organisms to right themselves

Geological layer analysis suggests the area was subject to repeated strong seasonal storms, indicating that these ancient creatures gathered in shallow coastal environments affected by such events, which contributed to their preservation within sedimentary deposits.

The findings provide a clearer picture of AlUla’s ancient environment as a coastal region and add a new scientific dimension to understanding its geological and environmental history. The commission said the analysis demonstrates its ability to generate accurate data that supports scientific research and innovation.

The discovery also represents a previously undocumented species that has yet to be formally classified. Research has been conducted in two phases in collaboration with a team led by Dr Russell Bicknell of Flinders University. The second phase, scheduled for the first half of 2026, will involve the collection of additional samples and further study prior to official classification. The fossil samples have been preserved within the commission’s museum collections to support future research and public engagement.

The commission said the discovery reflects its commitment to advancing scientific research and reinforcing AlUla’s position as a global destination for geological discovery, international collaboration and education linked to natural heritage, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Gulf  News

Jeddah: Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, ranked second globally in on-time arrival performance for 2025, according to the independent aviation tracking site Cirium. This marks the second consecutive year that Saudia has achieved this global ranking, recording an on-time arrival rate of 86.53 percent across a total of 202.8 thousand flights operated across its network, which covers more than 100 destinations across four continents.

H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: “This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our teams across planning, operations, and flight management. Operational efficiency remains a core pillar of Saudia’s strategic plan and is directly linked to the guest experience, with time being a critical element at every stage of the journey. Our ability to deliver on this is enabled by strong integration among Saudia Group companies, alongside close coordination with key partners in the Kingdom’s aviation sector”.

With 116 new aircraft scheduled for delivery over the coming years, joining Saudia’s current fleet of 149 aircraft, the airline continues to enhance its operational capacity through increased flight frequencies and seat capacity across existing destinations, alongside the launch of new international routes. These efforts are supported by a qualified national workforce and the advanced capabilities of Saudia’s operations building, which oversees flight operations using the latest technologies in the air transport industry.

Saudia’s operational performance aligns with its ongoing efforts to bring the world to the Kingdom by transporting guests and supporting major events hosted across Saudi Arabia, including international forums as well as tourism, entertainment, and sports events. On-time performance remains a key contributor to enhancing the guest experience, complementing the high-quality services and products delivered across both ground and inflight touchpoints.

About Saudia:

Saudia (Saudia Airlines) is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1945, the company has grown to become one of the Middle East’s largest airlines.

Saudia has invested significantly in upgrading its aircraft and currently operates one of the youngest fleet with 149 aircraft. The airline serves an extensive global route network covering around 100 destinations across four continents, including all 26 domestic airports in Saudi Arabia.

A member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), Saudia has also been a member airline in SkyTeam, the second largest alliance, since 2012.

Saudia was recently named “Best Airline Staff Service” for 2025 by Skytrax and ranked 17th in the global airline rankings. In addition, Saudia ranked first globally for on-time performance (OTP), according to Cirium. Saudia recognized at the APEX World Class 2026 Awards, receiving the “World Class Airline” title for the fifth consecutive year and the “Best in Class: Service–Guest Experience” award for the second consecutive year.

For more information on Saudia, please visit www.saudia.com