With the Holy Month expected to start on March 23, 2023, workers in the UAE can anticipate shorter Ramadan working hours.

Public sector workers

Now, a circular released by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has revealed public sector employees of the expected working hours during Ramadan.

The FAHR statement said ministries and federal entities will work from 9am to 2.30pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 9am to noon on Fridays.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has issued directives to allow 70 percent of Dubai Government employees to work remotely on Fridays during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The announcement follows the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) said working hours during Ramadan will be 9:00 am to 14:30 pm Monday -Thursday; and 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Fridays, except for employees whose work requires them to be on a separate shift schedule.

The DGHR also said Dubai Government entities can continue offering flexible hours during Ramadan as per prevailing laws and approved working hours. The DGHR encouraged government entities to allow 70% of their staff to work remotely on Fridays during the Holy Month.

Private sector workers

All private sector employees in the UAE will have their working hours reduced by two hours per day during Ramadan, as announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

The ministry issued a circular stating: “In accordance with the requirements and nature of their work, companies may apply flexible or remote work patterns within the limits of the daily working hours during the days of Ramadan.”

According to UAE labour law, private sector workers are usually required to work eight hours daily with an hour for lunch. During Ramadan, working times are reduced by two hours for all employees irrespective of whether they are Muslim or not.

The announcement comes in the implementation of Clause 2 of Article 15 of the Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 regarding the executive regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations and its amendments.

On the first day of Ramadan in Dubai, Muslims will be fasting from dawn until dusk. They need to begin the fast at 5.03am and end the fast at 6.31pm.

Ramadan is expected to end on April 21, 2023, and the exact dates of Eid Al Fitr will be confirmed by the moon-sighting committee closer to the time.

Eid al Fitr will commemorate this year with a four-day weekend in the UAE.

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