Oman updates work hours for Ramadan 2025
Employee Relations#EmployeeExperience#Trending#Flexibility
Anjum Khan
After the UAE, the Sultanate of Oman has also announced reduced working hours for public and private sector employees.
Ramadan 2025 is expected to begin on March 1, 2025, and the work timings, according to the Ministry of Labour, Oman, will be as follows.
“...the official working hours for units of the State’s Administrative Apparatus and the private sector during the holy month of Ramadan 1446 AH. The working hours will be as follows:
In the public sector i.e. the Civil Units of the State’s Administrative Apparatus: Official working hours will be five (5) continuous hours, starting from 9 am until 2 pm.
- In flexible working setups: The Head of Unit may implement the flexible working hours system and determine the start and finish times for employees during Ramadan in a manner that is consistent with the nature of the Unit’s work in light of the number of scheduled working hours. This system starts from 7 am until 3 pm, and shall be calculated from the time the employee arrives until the time he/she leaves work according to the established mechanism.
- In Remote work setups: During Ramadan, the Head of Unit may implement this system for those occupying positions whose nature permits this, without disrupting the workflow. The number of employees required to attend their workplaces shall not be less than 50 percent of the total number of employees.
And in the private sector, the working hours during Ramadan for Muslims shall be reduced to 6 hours per day and not exceeding 30 hours per week.”
Therefore, the sector-wise working hours for Ramadan 2025 in Oman will be:
| Sector | Regular Work Hours | Ramadan 2025 Work Hours | Additional conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Sector (Civil Units of the State’s Administrative Apparatus) | Typically 7-8 hours | 9 AM – 2 PM (5 continuous hours) | Flexible hours allowed (between 7 AM – 3 PM) based on unit decision. Remote work permitted for eligible roles (min. 50% on-site presence). |
| Private Sector | Typically 8 hours per day, 48 hours per week | 6 hours per day, max 30 hours per week | Only applicable for Muslim employees |
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The Ministry urged private sector employers to embrace flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid options, to enhance work productivity while respecting the spirit of Ramadan 2025.
