Ramadan Working Hours for UAE Government Employees Announced

The UAE’s Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has announced the official working hours for public sector employees during Ramadan 2025. From Monday to Thursday, employees will work from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, while on Fridays, hours will run from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, reducing the daily workload by 3.5 hours on weekdays and 1.5 hours on Fridays.

Flexible and remote work options remain in place for government ministries and federal employees, provided they adhere to daily hour limits. Additionally, up to 70% of employees may be permitted to work remotely on Fridays, depending on approved policies.

Ramadan in the UAE is expected to begin on March 1st, 2025, according to the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD). The official start date will be confirmed by the moon-sighting committee on February 28th.

Outside Ramadan, federal government employees follow a four-and-a-half-day workweek, with regular working hours from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Thursday, and 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM on Fridays. While most emirates have adopted a similar workweek system, Sharjah operates a four-day workweek with Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays as official weekends.