Working Hours in UAE for 2025

Table of Contents

Recognizing working hours in UAE is significant to workers and firms. It is pertinent to appreciate that grasping UAE labor laws is crucial.

The alterations of working hours during Ramadan will be focused on and expanded to the topic of leaves and holidays. This will also include enforcement, penalties, recent changes, and the best ways of managing the hr and payroll platform.

This blog will focus on working time arrangements, such as daily and weekly working hours, and the provisions for breaks and rest periods. It will also cover overtime laws, who is entitled to it, and how it is paid. It will also illustrate working conditions through part-time, shift, and night work.

What are the Working Hours in UAE according to the Labor Law?

The UAE Labor Law Overview is essential documentation that helps gain insight into employment rules. Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 and Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 regulate working hours in UAE. These laws shield most employment situations from bias and unfair treatment.

These regulations are usually implemented by the leading government authorities, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). The relevant MOHRE ministry supervises and mediates in cases of noncompliance and conflict.

Certain employees are exempt from these laws. These exemptions include:

Government and municipal workers
Army and police personnel
Domestic servants
Agricultural workers

Specialized laws govern the UAE’s financial free zones, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). These zones have their own rules and regulations.

Official Working Hours in UAE

Regular Working Hours

The official working hours for the private sector in the UAE are set by law. Employees can work a maximum of 48 hours per week. This typically means eight hours per day for six days.

One works four and a half days a week in the public sector. They work eight hours daily from Monday to Thursday and four and a half hours on Fridays.

Some industries have different working hours based on their specific needs. The Executive Regulations of the Labour Law provide these exceptions.

Key Points

Maximum of 48 hours per week, eight hours per day
The public sector follows a different schedule
Breaks must total at least one hour per day

Understanding the official working hours in UAE helps maintain a fair and compliant working environment. Employers should regularly update their knowledge of labor laws. This ensures that they meet legal requirements and effectively support employee well-being.

Overtime Regulations

Employers in the UAE can request employees to work overtime. However, the maximum is two hours per day. Overtime requires employee consent, ensuring it is not mandatory.

Eligibility and Limits

Up to two hours of overtime work can be requested daily. This rule protects employees from excessive work. Employee consent is essential before requesting overtime. This consent ensures fair treatment and avoids exploitation.

Overtime Pay Calculation

The payments over the legal working hours depend on the basic wages an employee earns. The policy on calculating overtime hours is as follows: 25% on all the hours an employee works overtime. For night shifts and weekends, the increase is 50%. This applies to work between 10 pm and 4 am.

Compensation for Rest Days and Public Holidays

Employees working on rest days get either compensatory rest or extra pay, which is 50% above the regular rate. Public holidays also require additional compensation. Employees can choose a substitute rest day instead.

Key Points

Overtime is limited to two hours per day
25% increase in regular overtime hours
50% increase for night shifts and weekends
Compensatory rest or extra pay for work on rest days and holidays

Overtime regulations apply to most employees, ensuring fair compensation. Employers must comply to avoid legal issues. Compliance with working hours in UAE protects employee rights.

Special Working Conditions

Reduced Working Hours

It is usual for private-sector employees to have shorter working hours during Ramadan as long as they are Muslims. During Ramadan, the maximum working hours are six hours per day.

This reduction is also made to cater to fasting and religious issues so that employees can fulfill their religious duties as they work. There are implications for work hours, and employers have to work around this, especially to avoid having reduced hours impact the employees’ wages.

This reduction in hours during Ramadan applies universally, excluding specific free zones like DIFC and ADGM, which have their own regulations. Even within these zones, reduced hours during Ramadan typically apply to Muslim employees observing the fast.

However, non-Muslim employees may also benefit from adjusted schedules to maintain fairness and consistency across the workforce.

Working Conditions for Women

Women have specific protections under UAE labor laws. They are generally not employed at night, with the night period defined as 11 consecutive hours from 10 pm to 7 am.

However, some categories of the population still require night work for some reason, for example, in healthcare or technical professions. In these cases, employers must guarantee that females do not face danger at workplaces and that working conditions meet the legal requirements.

Female employees cannot be employed in any activity that is considered dangerous or involves heavy lifting. By now, you may understand that this refers to jobs that require lifting weights, interactions with toxic substances, or anything that may be hazardous to the health of the employees concerned.

Employers are also obliged to maintain conditions of work that do not harm the women employees; otherwise, the employers will be violating the act’s provisions.

Working Conditions in Summer

The UAE has special provisions for summer labor hours to avoid exposing workers to high temperatures. Outdoor working is prohibited between 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. between mid-June and mid-September.

Because of the extremely high temperatures, employers can only schedule shifts between morning and evening. This regulation is essential for avoiding heat diseases and keeping employees safe, especially in construction and other outside employment sectors.

That is why employers are required to provide sufficient rest periods, shady spaces, and space for workers dealing with the hot climate. These regulations are vigilantly enforced, and nonadherence leads to stiff consequences.

Employers must repair workplace safety and health hazards, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) conducts routine inspections to enforce compliance.

Key Points

Part-time and shift work have specific regulations to ensure fair treatment.
Night shifts involve higher overtime rates due to the increased risks.
Ramadan reduces working hours to six hours per day for private sector employees.
Women have protections against night work and hazardous jobs to ensure their safety.
Summer regulations restrict working during hours when the weather is scorching to avoid heat stress.

Employers must meet special working conditions to safeguard the lives of employees. Conformity does not protect workers, but it ensures that everyone in that workplace is in a good mood to work.

Employers need to engage in training and constant updates on the existing labor laws, which helps them ensure compliance and support their employees.

This promotes a positive work environment and prevents legal issues. Special working conditions are designed to protect employees in various situations.

Leave and Holidays

Weekly Rest Days

Friday is the official rest day in the private sector, while public sector employees have their weekends on Saturday and Sunday. This difference highlights the distinct working hours in UAE for the public and private sectors.

Annual Leave

Employees with one year’s service or more are allowed 30 days of annual leave. This increases progressively as the following duration of service shows: those with six months to one year are given two days per month. The employer prescribes when employees can take their annual leave in the organization.

Public Holidays

Employees receive full pay on public holidays. If required to work on a public holiday, they get extra compensation. Compensation can be a substitute rest day or 150% of their daily wage. This ensures fair treatment for employees working during holidays.

Key Points

Friday is the official rest day in the private sector
Public sector weekend on Saturday and Sunday
30 days of annual leave for employees with over one year of service
Full pay and extra compensation for working on public holidays

Enforcement and Penalties

Compliance Monitoring

Employers must ensure compliance with labor laws. They should regularly update payroll system to reflect current regulations. Common compliance issues include unpaid overtime and improper break schedules. Strategies to avoid these include regular training and internal audits.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

If an organization fails to abide by labor laws, severe penalties, and legal action are required. Offenses can attract fines ranging from AED 5,000 to AED 1,000,000. If employers break the labor laws, lawsuits are also possible.

Changes in Working Hours

In 2022, the public sector was subjected to a new working model that included working four and a half days a week. This was crucial considering the change in the concept of working hours in UAE.

The “Know Your Rights” program was developed to safeguard foreign workers. This program will cover issues related to workers’ rights and general working conditions to enhance the latter.

Key Points

Regular updates to payroll solutions ensure compliance
Significant fines and legal consequences for non-compliance
2022 shift to a four-and-a-half-day public sector workweek
“Know Your Rights” program for foreign workers

Conclusion

Learning about working hours in UAE is essential to uphold the rules and requirements of the legislation. To avoid violating the provisions of the law on employment, employers need to observe the set measures on hours of work, hours of rest, and hours of rest available through overtime work.

The UAE has labor employment laws that are proper for employees and employers. Updating with changes and compliance strategies prevents penalties.

This creates a good atmosphere at the workplace, and the employees work harder to meet the set goals. Compliance, employee safety, and health are all for the greater good of the business.

FAQs

What Are The Working Hours Accepted in UAE?

The UAE’s legal limit of working hours is 48 hours per week. This usually entails 8 hours a day for six days or 48 hours a week.

Is There a Particular Working Schedule During Ramadan?

Indeed, during fasting in Ramadan, working hours are reduced to six hours daily. This applies to both private and public sector employees.

What Are the General Requirements for Calculating Overtime Rate?

Employees who work regular overtime are paid 25% more than their regular pay. Workers allowed to work at night and on weekends are paid 50% more than during the working day.

What is The Official Rest Day in the Private Sector?

Friday is the official rest day in the private sector. Public sector employees have their weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

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