Summer, Ramadan and the working week in Dubai: the rhythm of the year for Brits
Life in Dubai runs to three clocks you won't know from home: a summer so hot that outdoor work stops at midday, a holy month that moves every year, and a working week that ends at Friday lunchtime for many.
The short version
- July and August average daytime highs of about 41°C, with extreme heat and humidity from June to September [8].
- From 15 June to 15 September, work in the open sun is banned between 12.30pm and 3pm [3][6].
- Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February, with Eid Al Fitr around 9 or 10 March, subject to the moon sighting [7].
- During Ramadan, private-sector working hours are cut by two hours a day for everyone, Muslim or not, with no cut in pay [2].
- The UAE federal government works Monday to Thursday plus Friday morning, with Saturday and Sunday off, and most of the private sector follows a similar pattern [4].
Summer: living with the heat
Brits arrive in October, enjoy a glorious winter of 24°C days and beach barbecues, and then meet May. Here's the year in average daily highs [8]:
| Month | Average high | Heat and humidity |
|---|---|---|
| January | 24°C | None |
| March | 28°C | Moderate |
| May | 37°C | Very high |
| June | 39°C | Extreme |
| July | 41°C | Extreme |
| August | 41°C | Extreme |
| September | 39°C | Extreme |
| November | 31°C | High |
| December | 26°C | Low |
Even the sea warms to about 33°C in July and August [8], which is roughly bath temperature, so don't expect a refreshing dip.
How Brits cope
- Live indoors. Summer life moves to malls, indoor play centres, gyms, ice rinks and air-conditioned everything. Walk the dog at dawn or after dark.
- Escape. Many families head back to Blighty for the long school summer holiday, which is lovely for grandparents and a good time to catch up on UK dentists and haircuts. If you're watching UK tax residence, count those days carefully; see the Statutory Residence Test explained.
- Budget for the air conditioning. DEWA bills climb sharply in summer. Get the AC serviced in spring, not in August when everyone else is ringing round.
- Watch the car. Never leave children, pets, phones or aerosols in a parked car.
- Rain is rare but dramatic. Heavy rain can cause flooding, so check forecasts in the odd wet spell [1].
The midday break
Since 2005, the UAE has had a midday break for outdoor workers, and 2026 was its 22nd year [6]. Under Ministerial Resolution No. 44 of 2022, work performed directly under the sun and in open places isn't allowed between 12.30pm and 3pm from 15 June to 15 September each year [3]. Work that can't stop for technical or public-safety reasons, such as pouring concrete or emergency repairs to water and power networks, is exempt [6]. If you employ a gardener or have builders in, it applies to them.
Ramadan: what changes
Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of fasting. It begins when the new crescent moon is sighted and lasts 29 or 30 days, and the UAE follows the announcement of the moon-sighting committee [2]. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ramadan arrives about 11 days earlier each year. In 2026 it fell in February and March, and Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February, with Eid Al Fitr expected on 9 or 10 March 2027, depending on the moon [7].
Muslims fast from first light to sunset, with no food, drink or smoking, and the fast is broken at sunset with iftar, traditionally dates and laban (buttermilk). Suhoor is the meal before dawn [2]. Non-Muslims aren't expected to fast, and you'll find the evenings are when the city comes alive [2].
Etiquette for Brits
The FCDO's advice is clear [1]:
- Don't eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in daylight hours, and that includes in your car.
- Avoid loud music, dancing and swearing in public.
- Dress modestly in public places, as the FCDO advises all year: in malls, women should cover their shoulders and knees, and swimwear is for the beach or pool only.
- Be patient on the roads around sunset, when people rush home to break their fast and driving can be erratic.
That doesn't mean you'll go hungry. The UAE government says malls keep eating areas open for non-Muslims, set away from those who are fasting, supermarkets open as normal and malls stay open late [2]. Some restaurants change their hours or close in the day and reopen at iftar [2]. At the office, eat at your desk discreetly or in a designated room, and don't wave a sausage roll about.
Ramadan at work
Under UAE labour law, working hours are reduced by two hours a day during Ramadan, for both Muslim and non-Muslim employees, without any cut in regular wages [2]. Expect meetings to bunch up in the mornings, slower replies in the afternoon and a lot of business pushed to "after Eid". If you manage a team, plan big deadlines around it.
Many Brits come to love Ramadan: the iftar tents, the free iftar meals at mosques and malls, the cannon fired at sunset, and the generosity of invitations to break the fast with colleagues [2]. Say yes if you're invited. It's the closest Dubai gets to Christmas dinner with the whole street.
The working week
Monday to Friday, with a short Friday
In December 2021, the UAE moved its weekend from Friday and Saturday to Saturday and Sunday, from 1 January 2022 [4]. Federal government employees now work 7.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Thursday and 7.30am to midday on Friday, with Saturday and Sunday off [4]. Dubai's government, and most of the other emirates, adopted a similar week. Sharjah's government is the exception, working four days, Monday to Thursday, with a three-day weekend [4].
Friday afternoons are shaped by the main weekly prayers, so expect government offices to shut at noon and many private firms to finish early or work flexibly.
The private sector
Private employers set their own patterns within the law. UAE Labour Law sets normal working hours at 8 a day or 48 a week, with at least one hour of breaks if you work five hours in a row [3]. Overtime is capped at two extra hours a day and paid at your basic rate plus 25%, or plus 50% between 10pm and 4am [3]. If you work on your rest day, you get another day off or your basic rate plus 50% [3]. In practice, most office jobs run Monday to Friday, some with a half-day Friday, and some sectors, such as retail, hospitality and healthcare, run shifts across the week. Check your contract.
Public holidays
The UAE's official holidays apply to both the public and private sectors, under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 [5]. Most follow the Islamic calendar, so their dates move each year and are confirmed close to the time.
| Holiday | When | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | 1 |
| Eid Al Fitr | 1–3 Shawwal, after Ramadan | 4 (one more if Ramadan lasts 30 days) |
| Arafah Day | 9 Dhu Al Hijjah | 1 |
| Eid Al Adha | 10–12 Dhu Al Hijjah | 3 |
| Hijri New Year | 1 Muharram | 1 |
| Prophet Mohammed's Birthday | 12 Rabi' Al Awwal | 1 |
| National Day | 2 and 3 December | 2 |
Source: UAE Government portal [5]. A public holiday that falls at a weekend or on another holiday isn't moved to a weekday [5], so there's no equivalent of a UK "substitute day".
What's missing
There's no Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday or Easter Monday off. Christmas Day is a normal working day unless your employer gives it, so book annual leave early if you want to be home for the turkey. Churches hold Christmas services, and supermarkets and hotels do a roaring trade in mince pies and Christmas lunches, but the office will still expect you on the 26th.
Planning your year: a checklist
- Look up the expected Ramadan and Eid dates each autumn and pencil them into work plans [7].
- Book summer flights home early, as fares to the UK climb with the school holidays.
- Ask for Christmas off in writing, well in advance.
- Check your contract for your working days, Friday hours and overtime rules [3].
- Keep an eye on the FCDO travel advice, which was still current at 7 November 2026 when we checked that day, having last been updated on 27 October 2026 with information on regional tensions [9].
To swap tips on surviving August or where to find the best iftar, join our community group for Brits in the UAE.
Sources
- GOV.UK (FCDO): UAE travel advice, safety and security (still current at 7 November 2026)
- UAE Government portal (u.ae): Ramadan (updated 29 October 2026)
- UAE Government portal (u.ae): Working hours and overtime in the private sector (updated 12 August 2026)
- UAE Government portal (u.ae): Working hours in the public sector (updated 12 August 2026)
- UAE Government portal (u.ae): Public holidays
- Gulf News: midday outdoor work ban returns across UAE for 22nd year (8 June 2026)
- The National: Ramadan 2027 UAE dates and Eid Al Fitr holiday (6 October 2026)
- Weather2Travel: Dubai climate guide (Met Office and CRU data)
- GOV.UK (FCDO): UAE travel advice (still current at 7 November 2026, updated 27 October 2026)