Public sector employees will work for five hours throughout the holy month…

The holy month of Ramadan is likely to begin on April 13, 2021, and the UAE government has just announced the reduced working hours for the public sectors in the country.

The official announcement was made on the Federal Authority For Government Human Resources (FAHR) on their Twitter account which stated that official working hours during the blessed month will be from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon.

Exceptions apply for those who’s work requires them to work alternative hours. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) announced that private sector employees should work two hours less throughout Ramadan.

We’re not sure yet of the exact dates of Ramadan, as this is dependant on the moon sighting.

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: Getty