The United Arab Emirates has reduced the working hours of public sector employees during the Ramadan holy month.
The working hours during Ramadan will be from 9 am to 2.30 pm from Monday to Thursday while the timings will be 9 am to noon on Fridays. However, employees whose job requires them to work during other hours are exempted.
According to a directive by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, federal ministries and other departments could follow either the approved flexible work regulations during working days in Ramadan or grant flexibility for employees to work remotely on Fridays.
The remote work should not exceed 70 per cent of the ministry or department's total workforce in lined with the approved regulations.
Ramadan is expected to begin in the UAE on February 18 or 19, as per reports. The official date will be determined by the moon-sighting committee, which will meet on February 17 evening.
If moon-sighting is confirmed on the 17th, Ramadan will begin the following day. If not, it will begin on the 19th.