UAE Announces Shorter Work Hours for Ramadan

Ramadan 2026 in UAE: Reduced Public Sector Working Hours

As Ramadan approaches, the United Arab Emirates has once again announced the official reduction of working hours for the public sector, playing a significant role each year during the fasting month in aligning employee well-being with religious obligations. For the year 2026, Ramadan is expected to begin on February 19, although official confirmation is tied to the sighting of the crescent moon, which occurs on the 29th day of the Shaban month according to the lunar calendar.

Shorter Working Hours, Greater Flexibility

During Ramadan, the working schedule for public sector employees will be notably shorter. The workdays from Monday to Thursday will be from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, while on Friday, public sector workers will only work until noon. Exceptions will apply to positions where abbreviated working hours are not feasible due to the nature of the work.

The Federal Authority for Human Resources emphasized that ministries and other federal institutions may apply flexible working arrangements. This includes the option for up to 70% of employees to work remotely on Fridays, in line with existing guidelines.

The Start of Ramadan – Astronomical and Religious Perspectives

Although the exact start of Ramadan is always dependent on the moon sighting, predictions by the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomical Center suggest that the crescent moon will be “impossible or extremely unlikely” to be observed on February 17, 2026, in most regions of the Arab and Islamic world. This indicates that the month of Shaban—the eighth month of the Islamic calendar—is expected to be a full 30 days, meaning Ramadan could start on Thursday, February 19. The final decision, however, is always made by moon sighting committees, which convene on the 29th day.

Changes in the Default Working Schedule Outside Ramadan

It is worth understanding the working schedule of the public sector outside of Ramadan. Since 2022, the UAE federal government has officially adopted a four and a half day workweek: employees work eight hours from Monday to Thursday, and four and a half hours on Friday. Saturday and Sunday are the official weekend. This setup has helped the country align with global working time standards while respecting religious traditions.

In the emirate of Sharjah, however, the model slightly differs: public sector employees observe a four-day workweek, with the weekend comprising Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This means that during Ramadan, Sharjah more readily accommodates the rhythm of the spiritual month, as it already has a shorter workweek.

Social Impacts of the Ramadan Month

The reduction in working hours is not just a practical measure but also a sign of respect for religious obligations. During the month of Ramadan, believers fast from sunrise to sunset, which imposes significant physical and mental demands. The shorter working hours allow believers to better focus on prayer, self-examination, and nurturing family ties.

Additionally, many workplaces allow for remote work, which not only boosts efficiency but also decreases commuting demands. This is especially important for Dubai, where traffic regulations often change, and the risk of traffic jams increases around sunset during Ramadan.

Flexibility in Modern Administration

The decision by the Federal Authority for Human Resources reflects the modern administrative approach that has characterized the UAE government sector in recent years. The option for flexible working and partial remote work is a direction that serves both employee convenience and uninterrupted service provision.

With this measure, the UAE sets an example of how traditions and modernity can be harmonized in a rapidly developing society that is both global in scope and deeply rooted in Islamic culture.

Conclusion

The month of Ramadan is not only a significant religious period in the United Arab Emirates but also a gauge of workplace culture, public administration, and social harmony. The introduction of shorter working hours for 2026, along with flexible remote work on Fridays, reaffirms the UAE's commitment to humane and religion-sensitive governance.

Thus, Ramadan becomes not only a time of faith and fasting but also a demonstration of social empathy and workplace culture transformation—in a country where development progresses hand in hand with traditions.