Ramadan 2018: reduced working hours for private sector employees

Private sector employees in the UAE will have their working days reduced by two hours during the holy month.

The announcement was made via a statement issued by Nasser Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and in accordance with Article 65 of Federal Law No 8 of 1980.

Working hours for the public sector, which were announced on Sunday, will be from 9am to 2pm throughout Ramdan.

Companies are not required to follow the same timings as the public sector.

The holy month of fasting is expected to begin on Wednesday or Thursday, subject to the moon sighting.

Last week, Oman announced that Ramdan would begin on May 17. Historically, Oman's religious authority will call Ramadan independently of the rest of the Gulf while the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia tend to start fasting on the same day.

School hours will also be shortened across the country.

The National