UAE announces reduced Ramadan work hours for private sector

The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced reduced private sector working hours for Ramadan.

The ministry said in a tweet that private sector establishments, institutions and companies would have to reduce normal work hours by two hours for the holy month.

وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين تقرر تخفيض ساعات العمل العادية في جميع منشات ومؤسسات وشركات القطاع الخاص في الدولة خلال شهر رمضان لعام 1439 هجرية بمقدار ساعتين طوال ايام الشهر الكريم. #الامارات #دوام #شهر_رمضان #أخبار_العمل #المهنية pic.twitter.com/QxXFoUwjb8

— MOHRE_UAE (@MOHRE_UAE) May 15, 2018

For most companies this will mean a working day of 9:00am to 4:00pm assuming regular hours are 9:00am to 6:00pm.

However, some areas like Dubai International Financial Centre will not have reduced hours for non-fasting employees.

Read: Ramadan FAQ: Everything you need to know about the holy month

Public sector working hours have already been announced as 9:00am to 2:00pm.

Read: UAE authority announces Ramadan work hours

The UAE’s moon sighting committee is set to meet after prayers this evening to determine the start of Ramadan.

Read: UAE orders formation of Ramadan moon sighting committee

Should the moon crescent be spotted on Tuesday, it will mean Wednesday is the first day of the holy month

This is because the Gulf countries decide the beginning of Ramadan based on the Islamic calendar, which is linked to the moon’s 29 and a half-day monthly cycle.

Islamic months can be 29 or 30 days based on the appearance of the moon crescent at night.

Oman was the first country in the Gulf to announce when it will mark the beginning of Ramadan.

The sultanate’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs said last Monday that the holy month would fall on Thursday, May 17 due to concerns the moon would not be visible nationwide on Tuesday evening next week.

Read: Oman announces Ramadan start date

Astronomers in Kuwait and Sharjah have also indicated May 17 will be the likely start date for the month of Ramadan.

In March, Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences said Ramadan would likely fall on May 17 with Eid Al Fitr, marking the end of the month, expected on June 15.

Read: Ramadan likely to begin on May 17