Working Hours in the UAE (2026): 8 Hours a Day, Ramadan Hours, Breaks, Overtime and the Midday Break

Working hours in the UAE private sector are set by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, its Implementing Regulation (Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022) and ministerial resolutions. This guide is built from MOHRE's consolidated text of the law and regulation and from u.ae's Working hours and overtime page (updated 12 August 2026), read on 25 October 2026.

Normal working hours

Quick answer: A maximum of 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week (Art. 17, per u.ae). The Cabinet can raise or lower daily hours for some sectors or categories of workers.

• Commuting does not count as working time, except in cases the Implementing Regulation sets (Art. 15(1)): delays caused by bad weather in line with National Centre of Meteorology warnings, delays in employer-provided transport after an accident or emergency breakdown, or where the contract expressly provides for it.
• Part-time and other non-full-time patterns: a worker on a pattern other than full-time cannot be asked to work more than the hours in their contract without their written consent. MOHRE issues a separate part-time work permit (see our work permit types guide).
• Remote work: where the employer agrees to remote work, inside or outside the UAE, it may set specific working hours.

Breaks

A worker may not work more than 5 consecutive hours without a break or breaks totalling at least one hour, and break time does not count as working hours. Shift work and some jobs, such as field work, can arrange hours and breaks differently according to their nature.

Working hours in Ramadan

Quick answer: Normal working hours are reduced by two hours a day during Ramadan (Implementing Regulation, Art. 15(2); u.ae). For an 8-hour day, that means 6 hours.

Overtime

• No more than 2 hours a day, unless the work is needed to prevent or limit a serious loss or accident, and total working hours may not exceed 144 every 3 weeks (Art. 19(1); IR Art. 15(3)).
• Paid at the basic wage plus at least 25%, or plus at least 50% between 10 pm and 4 am (shift workers excluded) (Art. 19(2)–(3)).

Work out the pay with our overtime calculator.

Rest days and public holidays

• Employees get at least one paid rest day a week, as set in the contract or work regulations; the Cabinet can increase it (Art. 21).
• Work on the rest day earns another day off, or the day's wage plus at least 50% of the basic wage for that day (Art. 19(4)). A worker may not be asked to work more than two consecutive rest days, except day workers (Art. 19(5)).
• Public holidays are paid days off; working one earns another day off or the day's wage plus at least 50% of the basic wage (Art. 28). See the UAE public holidays list for 2026 and 2027.

The summer midday break

Under Ministerial Resolution No. 44 of 2022, as u.ae describes it, work directly under the sun and in open places is not allowed between 12:30 pm and 3 pm from 15 June to 15 September every year.

Who is exempt from the maximum hours

The Implementing Regulation (Art. 15(4)) exempts from the maximum working hours: chairpersons and board members; supervisors who hold the employer's authority; naval crews and seafarers with special service conditions; continuous succession-shift work for technical reasons, if the average does not exceed 56 hours a week; and preparatory or supplementary work that must be done outside normal hours.

How ZETUP PRO helps

ZETUP PRO handles MOHRE contracts and work permits, WPS and visas for mainland companies on a published monthly retainer. For leave, notice and gratuity, see our UAE Labour Law guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the working hours in the UAE private sector? A: A maximum of 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week (Art. 17, per u.ae). The Cabinet can change daily hours for some sectors or categories of workers.

Q: What are working hours during Ramadan in the private sector? A: Normal working hours are reduced by two hours a day during Ramadan (Implementing Regulation, Art. 15(2); u.ae).

Q: How many hours can an employee work without a break? A: No more than 5 consecutive hours without a break or breaks totalling at least one hour, which do not count as working time.

Q: How much overtime is allowed? A: Up to 2 hours a day, unless the work is needed to prevent or limit a serious loss or accident, with total working hours capped at 144 every three weeks (Art. 19(1); IR Art. 15(3)).

Q: Is travel time to work counted as working hours? A: No, except where the Implementing Regulation says so: delays from bad weather in line with National Centre of Meteorology warnings, delays in employer transport after an accident or breakdown, or where the contract expressly provides for it (IR Art. 15(1)).

Q: What is the UAE midday break? A: Under Ministerial Resolution No. 44 of 2022, as u.ae describes it, work directly under the sun in open places is not allowed from 12:30 pm to 3 pm between 15 June and 15 September.

Q: How many rest days do employees get? A: At least one paid rest day a week, as set in the contract or work regulations; the Cabinet can increase it (Art. 21).