Ramadan 2022: UAE announces working hours for federal government staff

The holy month is expected to start on April 2, but the final date has yet to be confirmed

Through the crenellations of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. AFP

Egyptian Muslims take part in evening prayers on Laylat al-Qadr or Night of Decree, at Amr Ibn El-Aas mosque. Reuters

Egyptian Muslims take part in evening prayers on Laylat al-Qadr or Night of Decree, at Amr Ibn El-Aas mosque. Reuters

An Egyptian Muslim takes part in evening prayers on Laylat al-Qadr or Night of Decree, at Amr Ibn El-Aas mosque. Reuters

Egyptian Muslims take part in evening prayers on Laylat al-Qadr or Night of Decree, at Amr Ibn El-Aas mosque. Reuters

Kareem Mahmoud, a 32-year-old Egyptian, prepares a dish of fava beans for customers from a novelty food cart in the capital Cairo's southern suburb of Maadi. AFP

Kareem Mahmoud, a 32-year-old Egyptian, prepares a dish of fava beans for customers from a novelty food cart in the capital Cairo's southern suburb of Maadi. AFP

Palestinian Muslim worshippers arrive to pray at a mosque on the occasion of Laylat al-Qadr, also known as the Night of Power, in Gaza City. AFP

Muslim worshippers pray on Laylat al-Qadr at Majidul Kabeer Grand Mosque in Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA

Muslim worshippers pray on Laylat al-Qadr at Majidul Kabeer Grand Mosque in Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA

A Muslim worshipper reads the Holy Quran on Laylat al-Qadr at Majidul Kabeer Grand Mosque in Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA

Muslim worshippers pray on Laylat al-Qadr at Majidul Kabeer Grand Mosque in Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA

Jewish settlers guarded by Israeli security forces walk past a Palestinian pickled vegetable and olive vendor's stall as they tour the Palestinian side of the old city market in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. AFP

An imam gives a sermon before Muslim worshippers attending at a mosque in Maaret al-Noman in Syria's northwestern Idlib province lateon the occasion of Lailat al-Qadr. AFP

Worshippers take part in evening prayers on Laylat al-Qadr at Grand Camlica mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters

Bosnian Muslim women pray at the Gazi Husrev Bay's Mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. EPA

Bosnian Muslim women pray at the Gazi Husrev Bay's Mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. EPA

An imam leads Muslim worshippers in prayer at a mosque in Maaret al-Noman in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on the occasion of Lailat al-Qadr. AFP

Muslim worshippers pray at a mosque in Maaret al-Noman in Syria's northwestern Idlib province early on the occasion of Lailat al-Qadr. AFP

The UAE has announced working hours for federal government employees during Ramadan.

On Thursday the authorities confirmed that Ramadan working hours would be from 9am until 2.30pm from Monday to Thursday and from 9am until midday on Fridays.

Federal departments will be permitted to implement flexible and remote working practices on Fridays, state news agency Wam stated.

Under the directives, up to 40 per cent of government employees will be allowed to work from home on Fridays.

Those who live far from their workplaces or have specific conditions which make such travel challenging will be given priority for remote duties.

The holy month is expected to start on April 2, but the final date will be confirmed by the UAE's Moon-sighting committee.

The Moon-sighting committee – a group of astronomers, court officials and advisers from the country's Islamic authority – typically convenes after maghrib, or sunset, prayers on the 29th day of Sha’ban to look for the new crescent moon.

If they spot it, Ramadan begins the following day. If not, Sha'ban will last 30 days and Ramadan will begin thereafter.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. It is believed to be the month when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and drink during this period.

Ramadan is a time when Muslims strengthen their faith through prayer and increased recitation of the Quran.

The last 10 days of the holy month are the most special, coinciding with Laylat Al Qadr, commemorating the night the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

The rewards for acts of worship carried out on this night are said to be more than the rewards of 1,000 months of worship.