Ramadan Working Hours
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate Ramadan working hours — the Gulf’s reduced-hours rules: UAE cuts 2 hours/day for ALL employees; Saudi/Qatar/Kuwait/Bahrain/Oman reduce Muslim employees’ days — and hours beyond the reduced norm become overtime.
Quick answer: Ramadan reductions: UAE −2 hours/day (everyone, by law); Saudi 6-hr day/36-hr week (Muslim employees); Qatar 36-hr weeks; Kuwait/Bahrain/Oman similar Muslim-employee reductions. Working normal hours in Ramadan = daily OT at each country’s premium.
Country by Country
| Country | Ramadan norm | Who | OT premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Normal −2 hrs (typically 6) | All employees (the famous inclusive rule) | 125%/150% day, 150% night |
| Saudi | 6/day, 36/week | Muslim employees | 150% |
| Qatar | 36-hr week | All (practice varies; law reads broadly) | 125%+ / 150% nights |
| Kuwait | 6-hr day | Muslim employees (practice often all) | 125%+ |
| Bahrain | 6-hr day | Muslim employees | 125%+ |
| Oman | 6/day, 30/wk | Muslim employees | 125%+ |
The Money Point
Where the reduced day IS the legal norm, an 8-hour Ramadan shift carries ~2 OT hours daily — ~44 premium hours across the month. UAE at AED 50/hour: 2 × 50 × 1.25 × 22 ≈ AED 2,750 of unclaimed Ramadan OT for anyone kept on normal rosters. Employers: cutting pay for the reduced hours is NOT allowed — the reduction comes at full salary.
Practice Notes
Private-sector timing announcements (and public-sector hours) publish before each Ramadan — specific daily schedules shift yearly with official announcements; the statutory reductions above are the stable floor. Flexible/remote arrangements must still respect the norm for OT math. Related: Saudi OT, UAE OT.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours in Ramadan in the UAE?
Normal hours minus two per day for ALL employees regardless of religion — at full pay; hours beyond are overtime.
Do non-Muslims get reduced Ramadan hours?
In the UAE, yes (the law covers everyone); Saudi/Bahrain/Oman reductions textually cover Muslim employees, though many employers apply them universally.
Can my salary be cut for shorter Ramadan hours?
No — the reduction is at full pay everywhere in the Gulf; pay cuts for statutory reduced hours are violations.
Is working normal hours in Ramadan overtime?
Yes — hours beyond the reduced norm attract each country’s OT premium (UAE 125%+, Saudi 150%).
Do free zones follow the reductions?
DIFC/ADGM have their own employment laws (DIFC reduces for fasting employees) — check the zone’s rule; mainland rules otherwise apply.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026