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Ramadan 1448 AH Workforce Planning Guide

UAE Ramadan Working Hours 2027: MOHRE Rules & Shift Guide

Expected Start
Monday, February 8, 2027 (Evening of Feb 7)
Expected End
Tuesday, March 9, 2027
Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal)
Wednesday, March 10, 2027

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Attendance
Leave tracking
Employee shifts
Employee records
Simple HR
No spreadsheets
Holiday calendar
Shift planning
Team management
Free first 25
Attendance
Leave tracking
Employee shifts
Employee records
Simple HR
No spreadsheets
Holiday calendar
Shift planning
Team management
Free first 25
Attendance
Leave tracking
Employee shifts
Employee records
Simple HR
No spreadsheets
Holiday calendar
Shift planning
Team management
Free first 25

Statutory Basis: United Arab Emirates

UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations — Article 17(4) & Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022

Under Article 17(4) of the UAE Labour Law, ordinary working hours are reduced by two (2) hours per day during the Holy Month of Ramadan. This reduction applies across all private sector establishments and commercial businesses.

Does this apply to non-Muslim employees?
A frequent point of confusion is whether the 2-hour reduction applies only to fasting Muslim staff. Under Article 17(4) of the UAE Labour Law and repeated MOHRE official directives, the 2-hour reduction applies uniformly to ALL private sector employees, regardless of whether they are Muslim or fasting.

Sector-by-Sector Ramadan Work Schedules

SectorStandard HoursRamadan HoursDaily ReductionRegulatory Notes
Private Sector8 hours / day (48 hrs / week)6 hours / day (36 hrs / week)2 hours dailyApplies to all private sector employees regardless of religion or nationality without any reduction in salary.
Public / Federal Sector8.5 hrs (Mon-Thu), 4.5 hrs (Fri)9:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Mon-Thu), 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Fri)Approx. 2.5 hours dailyFederal government ministries and public entities operate on a 5.5-hour day Mon-Thu and 3 hours on Friday.
Retail & HospitalityVaries by shiftSplit 6-hour shifts2 hours per employee shiftMalls and restaurants often operate late night shifts (e.g., 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM) to cater to evening shoppers after Iftar.

Overtime Calculations During Ramadan

Overtime Beyond 6 Hours During Ramadan
Formula: Basic Hourly Wage + 25% (or +50% for night/weekend)
During Ramadan, standard working hours are 6 hours. Any time worked by an employee beyond 6 hours in a single day constitutes overtime under Article 19, even if total daily hours remain under 8 hours.
Maximum Overtime Cap
Formula: Maximum 2 hours of overtime per day (Total 8 hours)
Employees may not work more than two (2) hours of overtime per day, meaning the total working hours during Ramadan must not exceed 8 hours per day, except in emergency cases to prevent serious loss.

Industry Shift Recommendations

Corporate & Tech Offices
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Single 6-hour block)
Remove or condense the traditional 1-hour lunch break to 15-30 minutes, allowing staff to finish their 6-hour shift and head home well ahead of evening traffic and sunset Iftar.
Retail & E-Commerce Fulfillment
Double-Shift Rotation (Morning 10 AM - 4 PM / Evening 8 PM - 2 AM)
Split warehouse and retail store crews to handle peak evening post-Iftar shopping and order surges.

Ramadan Working Hours FAQs (United Arab Emirates)