Around March 23, workers across the UAE can anticipate shorter working days due to the start of the fasting month of Ramadan.
The Labor Law stated, “The normal working hours would be reduced by two hours due to the holy month of Ramadan.”
During Ramadan, Muslims worldwide fast daily for 29 or 30 days, based on the sighting of the moon and the lunar calendar.
The fasting refrain from consuming any food or drinks, including water, from Fajr (dawn) prayer time, before sunrise, till sunset.
The rule of reduced hours will apply to all employees, regardless of their religion or if they are fasting or not. Any worker who fails to follow this law will be fined. School days are also reduced during this month.
The start of Ramadan and Eid- Al – Fitr will be declared closer to the moon sighting committee. As Ramadan is expected to start on March 23, the last day will likely be on April 20, comprising the first day of Eid-al Fitr on April 21.
This means the holiday is expected to be observed for four days in the UAE, which will fall on April 21, 22, 23, and 24.
As per the prayer timings published on the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment website, the UAE residents will fast for over 13 hours on the first day of Ramadan.
By the end of the month, the fasting hours will increase to 14 hours 16 minutes as Fajr prayers will be at 4.31. a.m.and Maghrib at 6.47 p.m.
The start of Ramadan changes yearly based on the Islamic calendar, which consists of lunar months totaling either 354 or 355. The Gregorian calendar causes fasting months 10 days earlier each year.
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Public Holidays in UAE
After Eid-al -Fitr, there are five more occasions when UAE residents will be granted holiday during the rest of 2023.
After that is Arafat Day, then the week-long Hajj pilgrimage which will fall in June, followed by Eid- Al – Adha, which will be on the last weekend of June between June 28-30.
The following public holiday will be on the Islamic New Year on July 21 and the birthday of Prophet Muhammad on September 29.
The next holiday will be National Day of the country, which will be on December 2 and 3.
Conclusion
The above report states about the holidays of the UAE and also about the reduction of working hours of the workers in the holy month of Ramadan.
