Ramadan 2027 working hours calculator for UAE employers
During Ramadan, private-sector working hours in the UAE are 2 hours shorter every day, for every employee. Enter your normal hours to get the Ramadan schedule and the overtime pay for any longer days, then download a ready-to-send notice for your staff as a DOCX or PDF.
Ramadan 2027 (expected)
Starts Monday 8 February 2027
Last day Monday 8 March 2027 or Tuesday 9 March 2027
Subject to the official moon sighting.
Ramadan 2026 (past)
Wednesday 18 February 2026 to Thursday 19 March 2026
Eid Al Fitr Friday 20 March 2026
Confirmed after the moon sighting. 30 days.
Ramadan shift and overtime calculator
1. Your Ramadan working day
Without breaks or overtime.
Not counted as working time.
Ramadan working day
6 hours
down from 8 hours
Finish time
4:00 pm
including the break
A week
30 hours
instead of 40 hours
Anything after 6 hours of work is overtime. With the 2-hour daily overtime limit, the latest finish is 6:00 pm.
2. Overtime pay for longer Ramadan days
Overtime is worked out on basic pay (Article 19).
Paid at least 50% extra, except for shift workers.
Overtime pay
AED 1,250.00
2 hours a day over the 6 hours Ramadan day
Basic hourly rate: AED 25.00
40 h × AED 31.25 (125%) = AED 1,250.00
The hourly rate is basic salary ÷ 30 ÷ your normal daily hours, the same method as our overtime calculator. The law sets the minimum uplift (25% or 50%) but no hourly formula, so your contract may use a different one.
Ramadan working hours notice for staff
Set your Ramadan hours and the notice is written as you type. If the day is longer than your normal hours less 2, the notice is not created and the reason is shown. Download it as a PDF or DOCX, or copy the text into an email.
Ramadan working hours rules for the private sector
- 2 hours less every working day for all private-sector employees, Muslim or not (Executive Regulation, Article 15(2)). Normal hours outside Ramadan are at most 8 a day or 48 a week (Article 17).
- Same salary. The shorter day is the normal day for the month.
- Overtime starts after the shorter day: basic hourly wage plus at least 25%, or 50% between 10 pm and 4 am (not for shift workers). At most 2 hours a day and 144 hours of work every 3 weeks (Article 19).
- Breaks are not working time. More than 5 hours in a row needs breaks of at least an hour in total (Article 18).
- Flexible or remote work is allowed within the reduced daily hours (MOHRE).
- Not covered here: government employees, whose hours are set by FAHR or their emirate, and the DIFC and ADGM, which have their own employment laws.
Federal government Ramadan hours by year
| Ramadan | Federal government hours | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 (1448) | Not announced yet. FAHR usually publishes the hours a few days before Ramadan. | - |
| 2026 (1447) | Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FAHR Circular 01/2026 |
| 2025 (1446) | Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FAHR Circular 02/2025 |
New to the UAE? Our guide to Ramadan working hours for newcomers covers etiquette and daily life, and the working hours and overtime rules guide covers the rest of the year.
Ramadan working hours FAQ
When is Ramadan 2027 in the UAE?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027 and end on Monday 8 March 2027 or Tuesday 9 March 2027, with Eid Al Fitr on Tuesday 9 March 2027 or Wednesday 10 March 2027. These are astronomical estimates. The UAE moon-sighting committee confirms the first day the evening before.
What are Ramadan working hours in the UAE private sector?
Normal working hours are 2 hours shorter each day during Ramadan (Executive Regulation of the Labour Law, Article 15(2)). For most staff that turns an 8-hour day into 6 hours and a 48-hour week into 36. Employers choose the start and finish times.
Do non-Muslim employees get reduced hours in Ramadan?
Yes, on the UAE mainland. The regulation reduces regular working hours for all workers and makes no distinction by religion or by whether someone is fasting. MOHRE's announcements refer to private-sector employees in general. The DIFC and ADGM free zones are different: their own employment laws limit the reduction to Muslim employees.
Is the salary reduced when Ramadan hours are shorter?
No. The shorter day is the normal working day for the month, so the full salary is paid.
Is work beyond the Ramadan hours paid as overtime?
Yes. Article 19 of the Labour Law treats work beyond the normal working hours as overtime, and during Ramadan the normal hours are the shorter day. Overtime is paid at the basic hourly wage plus at least 25%, or at least 50% between 10 pm and 4 am (not for shift workers), and is limited to 2 hours a day except to prevent a serious loss or accident.
Can employers use flexible or remote work during Ramadan?
Yes. MOHRE has said private-sector companies may use flexible or remote working patterns during Ramadan, as long as each day stays within the reduced daily hours.
What are federal government working hours in Ramadan 2026?
Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (FAHR Circular No. 01 of 2026). Federal entities could keep flexible hours within that window and let up to 70% of staff work remotely on Fridays. FAHR announces the federal hours each year shortly before Ramadan; the 2027 hours are not out yet.
Do breaks count towards the 6 hours?
No. Breaks are not working time. Anyone working more than 5 hours in a row needs a break or breaks of at least an hour in total (Article 18), so a 6-hour Ramadan day with a 1-hour break runs, for example, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Do I have to send staff a Ramadan hours notice?
The law does not require a written notice, but staff need to know their hours, and a notice keeps the schedule and overtime rules clear. The generator on this page writes one from your hours and refuses a schedule longer than the law allows.
Is the notice generator storing our company details?
No. The details are sent to our server only to build the preview and the DOCX or PDF, then returned to your browser. Nothing is saved, and you do not need an account.
Last checked: October 2026
Sources we checked every figure against:
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (MOHRE, English): Decree-Law Articles 17, 18, 19; Executive Regulation Article 15
- MOHRE, 12 February 2026: working hours reduced by two hours a day during Ramadan
- u.ae: Working hours and overtime in the private sector (updated 12 August 2026)
- FAHR Circular No. 01 of 2026: federal government working hours in Ramadan 1447
- FAHR Circular No. 02 of 2025: federal government working hours in Ramadan 1446
- Gulf News, 17 February 2026: UAE confirms 18 February as the first day of Ramadan
- Aletihad / WAM, 18 March 2026: Thursday 19 March last day of Ramadan, Friday 20 March Eid Al Fitr
- The National, updated 6 October 2026: expected Ramadan 2027 and Eid Al Fitr dates (UAE Astronomy Centre)
Ramadan 2027 dates are expected, not confirmed, until the moon-sighting committee announces them. This page explains the minimum the Labour Law sets for the mainland private sector and is not legal advice. Check with MOHRE (600 590000) for your own case.
Planning Ramadan cover?
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