Does UAE Overtime Work Differently During Ramadan?
October 23, 2026
UAE working hours are commonly reduced during Ramadan, which shifts the baseline that "normal hours" are measured from — this affects when overtime starts counting, though the overtime premium rules themselves (+25% day, +50% night/off-day) don't change.
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If normal daily working hours drop during Ramadan, any hours worked beyond that reduced baseline would count as overtime sooner than they would outside Ramadan — someone who normally works 8 hours without triggering overtime might trigger it at a lower hour count if Ramadan hours are reduced to, for example, 6.
Confirm the Specific Reduced-Hours Policy
The exact reduction in working hours during Ramadan is a detail worth confirming with your specific employer or checking current MOHRE guidance for the relevant year, since this is a recurring but specifically-scoped adjustment rather than a fixed universal number covered by the standard overtime articles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do overtime premium rates change during Ramadan?
No — the +25%/+50% premium structure stays the same; what changes is the baseline normal-hours figure overtime is measured against.
Why does a reduced normal-hours baseline matter?
It means fewer hours need to be worked before additional hours count as overtime, compared to outside Ramadan.
Where can I confirm the exact Ramadan working-hours reduction?
Directly with your employer or current MOHRE guidance, since this is a specifically-scoped seasonal adjustment.
Does this affect non-Muslim employees too?
Reduced Ramadan working hours in the UAE commonly apply across the workforce generally — confirm the specific company policy for how it's applied.