UAE announces reduced work hours for UAE federal workers; 70% to get remote work on Fridays
With Ramadan 2025 dates out, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has announced flexible working hours for the federal workers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government.
What are revised Ramadan 2025 work hours for the UAE federal workers?
The holy month starting from March 1, 2025, will be observing flexible and reduced work hours for the public sector employees as under:
| Days | Work Timings | Hours reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 9 am to 2:30 pm | 2.5 hours |
| Friday | 9 am to 12 pm | 1.5 hours |
| Saturday and Sunday | 0 working hours | No work day |
From Monday to Thursday, the official work hours will be from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, and on Fridays, employees can work from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, meaning fewer working hours than on other days. From Monday to Thursday, work hours have been reduced by 2.5 hours compared to regular hours, and on Friday, by 1.5 hours.
This adjustment is made because, during Ramadan, those observing the fast also offer special prayers and need adequate rest.
FAHR also underlined that some job roles in the Federal entities may require different schedules, as per specific needs, "Flexible work policies may continue to be applied in federal entities to ensure business continuity and service delivery." Therefore, it has guided the government ministries and federal employees to continue with their approved flexible work arrangements during Ramadan, as long as they stay within the designated daily work limits.
Additionally, remote work is allowed on Fridays for up to 70 percent of the workforce, based on the established guidelines.
What are official working hours for the UAE federal workers?
Besides Ramadan, the UAE government follows a four-and-a-half-day workweek, with:
- Monday to Thursday: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
- Friday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM (for offering extended prayers on Fridays)
- Saturday & Sunday: Official weekends
Most local government entities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah follow a four-day work week and flexible schedule. However, in Sharjah, the workweek is slightly different—employees work four days a week (Monday to Thursday, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM), and enjoy a three-day weekend (Friday to Sunday).
When does Ramadan 2025 start and end?
According to the Hijri calendar released by Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), Ramadan is expected to start on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The UAE’s International Astronomy Centre (IAC) also confirmed that the crescent moon, marking the start of the holy month, should be clearly visible in the night sky on February 28.
Since Islamic months last either 29 or 30 days, the official Moon Sighting Committee will meet on the 29th of Shaban i.e. February 28, 2025, to confirm the exact start date of Ramadan. If the crescent is sighted, Ramadan will commence the following day.
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What are Ramadan 2025 working hours for the UAE private sector workers?
As of now, the UAE has adjusted official working hours for public sector employees observing Ramadan 2025. For private sector employees, Ramadan 2025 official working hours will be relaxed as per the employer’s guidelines. However, the reduced work hours confirmed by FAHR are to be followed by the private sector as well in observance of Ramadan 2025. Official announcements are expected to be released soon.