ximmyx

i heard that working hours are shorter during ramadan. is this true.? If yes, does this apply to all companies and all people?

Grace O Malley

lol you haven't even started work here yet and you are asking about reduced ramadan hours!

nottmbantam

As far as I know , it only applies to Muslims.The working hours here in Riyadh - so I'm told - are 10.00 to 3.00pm. This will be my first Ramadan here in KSA.

I have also been told that European Expats ( EE's ) are expected to do the usual 7am to 4pm. I'm an EE , but also Muslim, and intending on fasting inshallah, so will be nice to have to have the shorter days. However the locals get around 10 days holiday for Eid, which us EE's won't get!

Grace O Malley

Abu Dhabi is shorter working hours , 6 hours as per the law, but not so for hotel workers and prob retail

busybee2

non muslim expats will do same hours, and you have to be respectful with regard to drinking 'tea' etc at the office.

ximmyx

haha i no! i'll hopefully be fasting myself. its ok back in uk i suppose but dont know how i am going to cope in 40 degrees heat! stay indoors i suppose!
my hours will be 8-6. i wasnt expecting any reduction but even an hour would be a bonus!

The Dean

0 out of 10 there, at least officially, my old cock......

It is ILLEGAL to make non-Muslims work longer hours than Muslims (because they also have to fast, of course)..............

They/You are also entitled to the full Eid holiday (in fact in many cases the WHOLE FIRM closes down, although knowing your firm's importance, they probably won't).

The two Eids (Fitr and Adha) add up to 14 days of official holiday, which I think we are all fully entitled to........

ximmyx

thats what i thought dean. would be unfair for it to only to apply to muslims. after all we are all obeying all other laws.

do you have an idea of when the public holidays are? i would like to spend eid with my family although im more than certain i wont be spending the first eid in uk because i will still be under the 3 month prohibitionary period!

arbroath_abroad

you can eat or drink whatever inside....just dont do it outside. There is no problem with you eating and drinking in your office..

and yes i work with arabs and yes i have worked over a good few ramadans.

agree with the hours, mostly everyone will work ramadan hours. This year we as a project group will not be, but our yard will be so the extra hours we will catch up on paperwork

twinkle-star

Last year Mr Star came home early and did paperwork because he couldnt get anything done. Everyone tends to shut down at lunch time including banks etc.
The pubs dont open until 7pm at night. Loads of people go out in the evening and eat at all you can eat buffets.

Dont get in a taxi in the afternoon the drivers might faint from hunger....You wont get one between 6 and 7 as they are all eating.
You cant smoke or drink water either.

Your work hours are short?? Most people do 10 to 12 hours over here.

lionheart

We work 9am to 3pm, which is nice. Unfortunately, many Arabs don't seem to get out of bed until 5pm so an occasional evening meeting will be unavoidable. We certainly don't get two weeks for Eid, usually 3 days for one and 4 days for the other.

weescot

Congrats on the new job!

By law, in AD the working day during Ramadan is reduced by two hours - mainly for the benefit of Emirati's and muslims (obviously):

http://www.abudhabi.ae/Sites/Portal/...did=20170.html

Many companies do their own thing, often with expats working beyond that. In general however, you will find a huge slow down and most people leave work early. If you are working with any Emirati's, my advice is not to eat or dink in front of them at all during Ramadan working hours - you'll earn more respect.

Ramadan starts on 1 September.

nottmbantam

I stand corrected. Pleasantly so. Will be nice to have some extra hols for Eid. Thanks for the info, and my cock is not old.....

Meow

Same law applies in Dubai.

Ramadan restirctions really aren't that bad. Just have to plan a little better. Oh and avoid driving between 3.00pm & Iftar if you value your life!

Inselaffen

its handy just to stay in the office an extra hour than your colleagues so you miss the traffic.

most of my colleagues managed to fast about 1 week and then went back on the fags and coffee.