Ramadan Timings for Schools, Malls, Public Transport and Working Hours

Here's all you need to know about working hours, schools and public transport hours for the Holy Month of Ramadan 2019

Posted on

27 April 2019

| Last updated on 14 January 2020

by Rebecca Roberts

Ramadan Timings for Schools, Public Transport and Working Hours in Dubai

Working Hours | School Timings | Parking | Public Transport | Malls and Food Courts

Ramadan in Dubai and the UAE is a time when the country slows, as a calming peacefulness sweeps the country as Muslims observe the Holy Month. During this time, those fasting abstain from food, drink and other physical needs during daylight hours (like smoking, for instance).

But Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking: it's a time for observers to cleanse the soul, refocus their attention on God and practice self-discipline and sacrifice.

For Ramadan 2019, the Holy Month is expected to begin in the even of Sunday 5th May, and end on Tuesday 4th June. As a result, the first day of Ramadan 2019 in UAE will be Monday 6th May.

Note that in the Muslim calender, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Saturday, 4th May.

Although Ramadan in Dubai, the UAE and other Muslim countries is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year.

The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.

Find the Ramadan timings for schools, public transport, malls, parking and your working hours with our complete guide to timings during Ramadan in Dubai for 2019.

Working hours during Ramadan in Dubai

During Ramadan in the UAE, the working hours are reduced or altered in order to facilitate the Holy Month. This affects most areas in the public sector with regards to working times.

For Ramadan 2019, it has been confirmed that public sector workers will be entitled to a reduction of two hours during the working day; all ministries and federal entities will have only five working hours daily during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

It must be noted that the UAE's government announced that while working times are reduced, the reduction will not affect the salaries of any of the employees.

Below is the UAE's labour law about Ramadan, as published by the UAE Ministry of Labour with regards to worker's hours and the following text comes straight from the UAE Ministry of Labour's UAE Labour Law.

Article 65:

"The maximum number of ordinary working hours for adult workers shall be eight hours per day, or forty eight hours per week. The number of hours may be increased to nine hours per day for people employed in trade, hotels, cafeterias, security and other jobs whose addition may be made by virtue of a decision from the Minister of Labor. Furthermore, the daily number of working hours may be reduced for strenuous or harmful works and such by virtue of a decision from the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.

The ordinary working hours shall be reduced by two hours during Ramadan. The commutation periods spent by the worker from the place of residence to the work site thereof shall not be calculated within the working hours."

This has no effect on the employee's salary. Should an employee choose to work more hours, it is allowed for only two extra hours and must be paid over-time, which is 25 per cent of the basic salary per day for day time and 50 per cent for night duty.

So basically, under MOL UAE Labour Law, Ramadan working hours are reduced for Muslims and non-Muslims as well. It is applicable for both indoor and outdoor work. Workers who work on a construction site will continue to have the midday break from 12 to 3pm.

Dubai and UAE school timings during Ramadan

Every year, the UAE Ministry of Education or KHDA will announce shortened hours for students across the country during Ramadan.

For Ramadan 2019, school days will be reduced to five hours of classes during the Holy Month.

School days during Ramadan will start between 8am to 8.30am and finish between 1pm to 1.30pm, with shorter breaks.

Schools should ensure that the total hours of school per day during Ramadan for students do not exceed five hours.

Physical exercise lessons will be prohibited for fasting students. Exposing any student(s) to the heat is prohibited to avoid the risk of exhaustion and dehydration. Any other demanding physical activities are also prohibited, so as not to influence their grades or overall academic performance during the Holy Month.

All students must be protected against the risks of exhaustion and dehydration.

Ramadan parking timings in Dubai

Parking hours are also changed during the Holy Month of Ramadan. For Ramadan 2019, paid parking zones in Dubai will be operational from 8am until 6pm, and from 8pm to 12am during Ramadan. In Barsha Heights (Tecom), the tariff will apply from 8am until 6pm.

Parking during Iftar (6pm until 8pm) is free across the emirate.

Dubai public transport timings during Ramadan

Normally, residents and tourists in Dubai shouldn't expect too huge a change to public transport timings during the Holy Month of Ramadan in Dubai.

Dubai Metro timings during Ramadan

For Ramadan 2019, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said from Saturday to Wednesday, Dubai Metro will be operational on the red line from 5am until 12am. On Thursdays, the service will be from 5am until 1am (the next day), and on Fridays from 10am until 1am.

The green line on Dubai Metro will be operating from Saturday to Wednesday from 5.30am to 12am, and from 5.30am to 1am on Thursday. On Fridays, the green line will be operating from 10am until 1am.

Dubai Tram timings during Ramadan

The Dubai Tram will be operational from Saturday to Thursday from 6am until 1am, and on Friday from 9am to 1am.

RTA bus timings during Ramadan

The timing of public buses during Ramadan 2019 shall be as follows:

Main bus stations - like Gold Souk - will operate from 4.25am to 12.29am
Al Ghubaiba Station will opera from 4.16am to 1.01am
Sub-stations - like Satwa - will start from 5am to 11pm, except for Route C01 which will operate 24/7
Al Qusais Station will run from 5am to 11.49pm
Al Quoz Industrial Station will operate from 5am to 11.35pm
Jebel Ali Station will operate from 5am to 11.30pm

Dubai Metro feeder bus stations at Rashidiya, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta, Burj Khalifa, Abu Hail, and Etisalat will be in service from 5am until 12.10am. Timings of the feeder bus services will be synchronised with the timing of Dubai Metro journeys.

Inter-city bus stations and commercial coaches will operate as follows:

Main stations - like Al Ghubaiba - will opera 24/7 to Sharjah
Abu Dhabi service will run from 4.40am until 12am
Sub-stations - like Union Square - will run from 4.30am until 1.25am
Al Sabkha Station will operate from 6.15am to 1.30am
Deira City Centre Station will run from 5.35am to 11.30pm
Karama Station will run from 6am to 10pm
Al Ahli Club Station will operate from 5.55am to 10.15pm

External stations, like Sharjah's Al Taawun, will run from 5.30am to 10pm, and Fujairah Station will operate from 5.30am until 9.30pm. Ajman Station will be open from 5am until 11pm, and Hatta Station will be open from 6.30am until 10.30pm.

Malls and food court timings in Ramadan

Dubai Tourism has confirmed the timings of malls and food courts across Dubai for the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Major malls will continue to operate throughout the Holy Month, and will extend their late-night operating hours to accommodate those fasting between sunrise and sundown. Malls will remain open until 1am on weekdays, and until 2am on weekends.

Mallgoers are reminded that some smaller boutiques and businesses may close during the day during Ramadan, only opening after sunset.