The UAE has announced new working hours for public sector employees during the holy month of Ramadan. According to the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), federal employees will have reduced working hours from Monday to Thursday, working 3.5 hours less, and 1.5 hours less on Fridays.
During Ramadan, ministries and federal agencies will operate from 9 am to 2:30 pm from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, working hours will be from 9 am to 12 noon, unless the nature of the work requires otherwise. Flexible or remote work schedules approved by ministries and federal agencies will also be allowed during Ramadan, as long as they adhere to certain principles and stay within the approved number of working hours per day.
Employees may also have the option to work remotely on Fridays during Ramadan, but this flexibility will be limited to 70 percent of the total number of employees, as per approved guidelines. The start date of Ramadan is expected to be on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, according to the Hijri calendar published by the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD).
These adjusted working hours aim to accommodate both fasting and non-fasting employees, allowing them to participate in spiritual activities and cultural practices during Ramadan.
Outside of Ramadan, the UAE federal government follows a four and a half-day working week, with employees working eight hours a day from Monday to Thursday and until 12:00 pm on Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays are the official weekends for the federal government sector.
Similar work week systems are adopted by local government entities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. However, in Sharjah, federal employees work four days a week, from Monday to Thursday, with the official weekend lasting for three days: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
