Ramadan working hours in the UAE
Ramadan working hours in the UAE: the private sector working day is two hours shorter. Check your hours and any overtime above them. Worked out in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Working day in Ramadan
6 hours
Your normal 8 hours less 2 (Implementing Regulation, Art. 15(2)).
Overtime pay and its minimum premiums are worked out in the overtime calculator.
Ramadan dates
| Year | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, 18 February 2026 | Thursday, 19 March 2026 | ConfirmedRamadan ran 30 days; Eid Al Fitr was Friday 20 March 2026. |
| 2027 | Monday, 8 February 2027 | Not yet known | ExpectedExpected from Monday 8 February under the Umm al-Qura calendar. Depends on moon sighting. |
Ramadan working hours, explained
How many hours is the working day in Ramadan in the UAE?
The Implementing Regulation says the regular working hours are reduced by two hours during the holy month of Ramadan (Art. 15(2)). On an 8 hour day that is 6 hours. For 2026, MOHRE announced on 12 February 2026 that private sector hours were reduced by two hours daily.
Does the shorter day apply to non-Muslim staff?
The Regulation text does not limit the reduction to Muslim employees. It says the regular working hours are reduced by two hours during Ramadan, without naming any group.
Is work beyond the shorter Ramadan day overtime?
A reading: yes, because the Regulation reduces the regular hours and the labour law treats hours beyond the normal working hours as overtime, paid with an increase of not less than 25%. The Regulation makes no Ramadan exception to the 2-hour daily overtime limit or the 144 hours in 3 weeks. The overtime calculator prices it.
Can staff work flexibly or remotely in Ramadan?
The MOHRE announcement of 12 February 2026 allowed flexible or remote work within the reduced working hours. That announcement concerned Ramadan 2026. Check MOHRE for the year you need.
Do government employees get the same hours?
The rule and the MOHRE announcement cover private-sector employees. This page gives no figures for government staff.
The law behind these figures
Every figure on this page comes from the rules below, checked 17 October 2026.
Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (Implementing Regulation)
- Art. 15(2)The regular working hours are reduced by two hours during the holy month of Ramadan. MOHRE marks its English copy as not an official translation.
- Art. 15(3)The employer may instruct overtime of no more than two hours a day, unless the work is necessary to prevent a serious loss or accident or to eliminate or mitigate its effects. The total working hours may not exceed 144 hours every three weeks. MOHRE marks its English copy as not an official translation.
MOHRE announcement, 12 February 2026
- Guide: Ramadan working hoursMOHRE announced that working hours for private sector employees are reduced by two hours daily during the holy month of Ramadan 2026.
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
- Art. 19(2)Hours beyond the normal working hours are overtime, paid at the wage for normal hours, calculated on the basic wage, plus an increase of not less than 25% of that wage.
- Art. 17(1)The maximum normal working hours are 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week.
A guide to the legal minimum for private-sector employers on the mainland and in most free zones. DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws, and a contract can give more. It is not legal advice.
Also free: the overtime calculator, the UAE public holidays, and every UAE tool.
Get your organisation on NearSync
NearSync People HQ applies Ramadan hours to attendance and overtime for your whole team. See how it works.
Part of NearSync AI: HRMS and payroll software for UAE businesses.