Authorities announce timing changes ahead of the holy month
During Ramadan, there are a number of changes to expect, including reduced working hours for both the private and the public sectors. An update has just been announced by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources for the public sector.
الهيئة الاتحادية للموارد البشرية الحكومية تعلن ساعات العمل الرسمية في الحكومة الاتحادية خلال شهر رمضان المبارك. pic.twitter.com/BtbmcBsbMA
— FAHR (@FAHR_UAE) February 11, 2026
Employees of ministries and federal government entities will work from 9am to 2.30pm from Monday to Thursday. Working hours on Friday will be from 9am to 12pm except for those whose work nature requires otherwise.
Employees of private sector companies usually see their working day being reduced by two working hours. Private sector companies may apply flexible work patterns or remote work within the limits of the daily working hours specified during the days of the month of Ramadan.
When is Ramadan 2026?
According to the Emirates Astronomical Society, Muslims would attempt to sight the new crescent moon, which marks the start of the Holy Month, on Tuesday, February 17. However, as per Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the society’s board of directors, it’s ‘not expected to be sighted’ on Tuesday evening. As per The National, he advised, “Ramadan’s crescent [moon] will be born at 4.01pm local time on Tuesday, February 17, and will go down one minute after sunset.”
If the moon is visible on Tuesday, Ramadan will begin on Wednesday, February 18. However, as it’s likely that it won’t be, in the UAE and across the Arab world, it’s likely that Ramadan will start on Thursday, February 19.
We will have to wait for confirmation on the dates closer to the time from UAE officials. Stay tuned to What’s On for updates.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It’s a time when Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset.
Lasting around a month, it marks the time when the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Extra tarawih prayers are performed throughout Ramadan, and each evening 1/30th of the holy book is recited. By the end of Ramadan, many observers have read the entire Qur’an.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, which are the foundation of the religion. The pillars are the framework by which Muslims everywhere live, and Ramadan is considered the holiest time in the Islamic calendar. It is a time for prayer, reflection and religious devotion, to cleanse past sins and to focus on Allah through good deeds.
Images: Unsplash
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