UAE announces Ramadan work hours for private sector

By: staff reporter Published Date: March 13, 2023

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PHOTO BY ARCHIVE

UAE announces Ramadan work hours for private sector

All employees in the UAE private sector will have their work hours reduced by two hours during Ramadan, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) announced on Monday (March 13).

“The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced a reduction of 2 working hours per day for all employees in the private sector in the UAE during the holy month of Ramadan,” MoHRE said.

Under the UAE labour law, “private sector workers are required to work 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. During the holy month of Ramadan, working hours are reduced by two.”

For the government sector, official working hours for ministries and federal authorities will be from 9am to 2:30pm from Monday to Thursday, and from 9am to 12pm on Friday during Ramadan.

The authority stressed that ministries and federal authorities may also implement flexible work or remote work schedules during Ramadan.

Travel time from the employee’s place of residence to the workplace is not included in the working hours, except for certain categories of workers specified under the labour law.

Schools in the UAE are expected to have shorter school hours during Ramadan. Last year, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority directed schools to open for only five hours of classes during Ramadan.

In the UAE, Ramadan is expected to begin on March 23 and end on April 21. An official announcement will be made once the crescent moon is sighted by the assigned committee. ICA/Expat Media

Official list of UAE holidays in 2023

Eid Al Fitr: Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3
Arafah Day: Dhul Hijjah 9
Eid Al Adha: Dhul Hijjah 10-12
Hijri New Year: July 21
Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday: September 29
UAE National Day: December 2-3