RAMADAN LIKELY TO BEGIN ON JUNE 29; UAE MUSLIMS TO FAST FOR MORE THAN 15 HOURS
ABU DHABI — The working hours for all private sector employees will be reduced by two hours during the Holy Month of Ramadan with no salary reduction for workers, Wam reported.
The announcement came in a circular issued by Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Labour, in implementation of the provision of Article 65 of Federal Law No. 08 of 1980 concerning the regulation of labour relations and its amendments.
Mr. Ghobash offered sincere greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, the UAE people and the Arab and Islamic Nations, on the occasion of the advent of Holy Ramadan.
Muslims in the UAE will have to fast a little over 15 hours amidst the summer heat since Ramadan coincides with summer this year. But in other cities in the northern hemisphere, it could extend to more than 20 hours.
According to the Sharjah Planetarium Ramadan is likely to begin on June 29 (depending on the sighting of the moon) with daylight hours of about 13 hours and 45 minutes. Based on the Fajr and Maghrib (sunset) prayer timings, the fasting period will be 15 hours and 15 minutes. Towards the end of the month, the fasting hours in the UAE will be reduced by about 20 minutes to 14 hours and 55 minutes.
