Ramadan hours for private schools in Dubai announced

Pupils will have a shortened school day throughout the holy month, and P.E. classes will cease

Private school pupils in Dubai will have their school days reduced to five hours and will be exempt from physical education during Ramadan. Stephen Lock / ADMC

Private school days in Dubai will be shortened to five hours during Ramadan, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority has announced.

Schools will start between 8am and 8.30am and end between 1pm and 1.30pm, with shorter breaks throughout the day, said Mohammed Darwish, Executive Director of the Licensing and Compliance Department at KHDA.

The authority also recommended that private schools suspend all physical education classes during the holy month, which the Sharjah Centre for Space and Astronomy has predicted will begin on May 17.

Pupils observing Ramadan are also exempt from taking part in outdoor activities to avoid long-term exposure to sunlight, Al Bayan reported.

Eating and drinking will be restricted to private, designated areas to take into account the feelings of those observing Ramadan.

Staff have also been encouraged to raise awareness about the practices of Ramadan, said Mr Darwish

The first day of Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall on June 15, while Eid Al Adha was estimated to begin on August 22, Sharjah News reported.

However, the exact dates of the holy month are yet to be confirmed by the moon sighting committee.

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