Working Hours in the UAE: Private vs. Public Sector Schedules

The number of hours you work in the UAE depends on whether you’re in the public or private sector. Let’s break down what to expect in each.

Private Sector Work Schedule:

In the private sector, you typically work:

• 8 hours a day
• 48 hours a week

There are some exceptions, though. During Ramadan, your workday gets 2 hours shorter. Some specific jobs or industries might also have slightly different working hours, as defined by government rules.

Keep in mind, your commute to and from work usually doesn’t count as part of your official work hours. There can be exceptions here too, so it’s best to check with your employer.

Breaks and Overtime

Everyone gets breaks! If you work for 5 hours straight, you’re entitled to one or more breaks, each less than an hour. These breaks aren’t counted as part of your workday.

Your employer might ask you to work overtime sometimes. This extra work can’t be more than 2 hours a day. If you do work overtime, you get paid your regular wage, plus an extra 25%. This extra pay can go up to 50% if you’re working overtime between 10 pm and 4 am. There’s an exception though – these overtime pay rules don’t apply to people who work shifts already.

If you have to work on your official day off, you deserve some compensation! You can either get another day off to make up for it, or your employer needs to pay you your regular wage plus an extra 50%.

Public Sector Work Schedule

Working hours for government jobs vary slightly between the emirates. Here’s a breakdown:

• Federal Government: You work a four-and-a-half-day week. This means working 8-hour days from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, you work a half day, from 7:30 am to 12 pm. Weekends are Saturdays and Sundays.
• Most Local Governments: Similar to the federal government, with a few exceptions. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah follow a similar schedule.
• Sharjah Government: Employees work a four-day week, from Monday to Thursday. Weekends are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.