Ramadan and UAE Holidays: Planning Translation Work
The Short Answer
Planning translation during Ramadan in the UAE, or around Eid and the other public holidays, is mostly a matter of working back from the offices you depend on. Translation itself can move quickly, but attestation, notary appointments, court filings and embassy steps all follow official working hours, which are shorter in Ramadan and stop entirely on public holidays. Islamic holidays are fixed by moon sighting, so their exact Gregorian dates are only confirmed shortly beforehand.
The practical rule: send documents before the holiday, not on its eve, and book interpreters for Ramadan evenings and the days after Eid early. This guide explains what changes and how much margin to build in.
What Changes During Ramadan
Shorter working days
In recent years the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has announced, each Ramadan, a two-hour reduction in daily working hours for private-sector employees, with flexible or remote patterns allowed within the daily limit. Government working hours are announced separately each year. Courts, notaries, typing centres and embassies adjust their own hours, so check each one you need.
Business moves later in the day
Many people work a compressed day, and meetings, events and networking often move after iftar. Daytime lunch meetings are best avoided.
Decisions take longer
With shorter days, approvals and signatures can slow down, on your side and on the authority's side. A file that takes one week outside Ramadan can take longer inside it.
UAE Official Public Holidays
| Holiday | When (as listed on u.ae) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Fixed date |
| Eid Al Fitr | 29 Ramadan to 3 Shawwal (plus 30 Ramadan if the month has 30 days) | Moon sighting decides the dates |
| Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha | 9 to 12 Dhul Hijjah | Moon sighting decides the dates |
| Hijri New Year | 1 Muharram | Moon sighting decides the date |
| Prophet's Birthday | 12 Rabi' al-Awwal | Moon sighting decides the date |
| National Day | 2 to 3 December | Fixed dates |
The list is set by Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 and applies to the public and private sectors. Holidays other than Eid can be moved to the start or end of the week by Cabinet decision, and a holiday is not moved if it falls on another holiday or a weekend. The exact dates are announced each year, so check the official announcement on u.ae rather than an old calendar.
Lead Times: What to Do and When
Four weeks before Ramadan or a long Eid break
List every document that needs translation, attestation or notarisation in the coming weeks. Anything that needs a foreign embassy or the home country's ministry should start now, because those offices follow their own holidays as well as the UAE's.
Two weeks before
Send documents for translation, so the translations are ready for MOFA, a notary or a court while those offices are still on normal hours. Book interpreters and equipment for any event in Ramadan evenings or the week after Eid.
The week before Eid
Expect queues at offices that close for the holiday. Avoid planning a notary appointment or an attestation for the last working day before the break.
After the holiday
The first days back are busy everywhere. If a deadline falls soon after Eid, do not count on those days.
Deadlines Do Not Always Pause
Do not assume a legal deadline stops for Ramadan or a public holiday. How holidays affect court and contractual deadlines depends on the procedure and the contract; ask your lawyer and plan the translation of any court document well before the last day. Same-day translation is available on working days for many documents, see same-day translation, but it cannot open an office that is closed.
Interpreting and Events in Ramadan
- Evening sessions. Conferences, majlis events and community gatherings are often held after iftar. Interpreters for those evenings book up, so confirm early.
- Shorter daytime sessions. For hearings, depositions and site visits, plan within the shorter working day and leave margin.
- Booths and equipment. Venue access times can change in Ramadan; confirm set-up times with the venue. See interpreter booth rental.
- Content. Speeches and slides for Ramadan events usually open with a seasonal greeting; ask your translator for the right Arabic formula.
Our multilingual conference planning checklist gives the full event timeline.
Are working hours shorter in Ramadan in the UAE?
Yes. In recent years MOHRE has announced a two-hour reduction in daily working hours for private-sector employees during Ramadan, and government hours are announced separately. Check the current year's announcement.
What are the official public holidays in the UAE?
New Year's Day, Eid Al Fitr, Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year, the Prophet's Birthday and National Day, as listed on u.ae under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024.
Why are Eid dates not fixed in advance?
Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar and are confirmed by moon sighting, so the Gregorian dates are announced shortly beforehand.
Can I get documents attested during Eid?
Government offices close on public holidays, so plan attestation and notary steps before or after the break.
Is it a good idea to schedule a meeting during Ramadan?
Yes, but plan around shorter working days, avoid lunch meetings and consider that many events move to the evening.
How early should I book an interpreter for a Ramadan evening event?
As early as you can. Evening events in Ramadan and the week after Eid are busy periods for interpreters and equipment.
Do court deadlines stop during public holidays?
Not necessarily; it depends on the procedure and the deadline. Ask your lawyer and translate court documents well before the last day.
Can SWLT translate documents just before a holiday?
Same-day delivery is available for many documents on working days. Contact us on WhatsApp to confirm timing before a holiday. Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available.
How SWLT Helps
We translate documents for attestation, notarisation and court filings, and provide interpreters and equipment for meetings and events, including evening sessions. See our interpreting services and legal translation.
Disclaimer
This article is general guidance on the language side of business and official communication in the UAE. It is not legal advice. Working hours, holidays, protocol and authority requirements change; confirm current arrangements with the authority, court or organisation concerned.
Plan Ahead of the Holiday
Send us your documents and deadline, or the date and venue of your event. Smart World Legal Translation – Sole Proprietorship L.L.C. (SWLT) is a UAE Ministry of Justice-licensed legal translation company in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, led by Dr. Hani Elimam. Our federal accreditation is accepted across the UAE, including by Dubai Courts, and we hold exclusive interpretation contracts with the UAE Federal Courts and the Federal Public Prosecution. Interpreting is quoted on request for each assignment. Arabic⇄English legal translation is AED 60 per 200-word page (excl. VAT), with same-day delivery available. Send us the details on WhatsApp (+971 50 864 8439), email info@swlt.ae, or use our contact page.