The UAE has officially announced adjusted working hours for public sector employees during the upcoming Ramadan period. According to The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), federal employees will experience a reduction in working hours to accommodate the observance of the Islamic holy month.

Starting from Monday to Thursday, federal ministries and agencies will operate from 9am to 2:30pm, representing a decrease of 3.5 hours compared to regular working days. On Fridays, working hours will be from 9am to 12 noon, allowing for a 1.5-hour reduction.

These adjustments are aimed at enabling both fasting and non-fasting employees to participate in spiritual activities and cultural practices during Ramadan. The authority has emphasized that ministries and federal agencies may adopt flexible or remote work schedules, subject to approval and adherence to the prescribed working hours.

Furthermore, the implementation of remote work on Fridays during Ramadan is permitted, provided it does not exceed 70% of the total workforce, as per established guidelines.

According to the Hijri calendar published by the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), Ramadan is expected to commence on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Beyond Ramadan, the regular working hours for UAE federal government employees constitute an eight-hour workday. This translates to working from 7:30am to 3:30pm from Monday to Thursday, and from 7:30am to 12:00 on Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays remain the official weekends for the federal government sector.

In alignment with the federal government's work week system, local government entities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah have adopted similar schedules. However, federal employees in Sharjah operate on a four-day workweek, from Monday to Thursday, with an official weekend spanning three days: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.