Kuwait Ramadan Working Hours — What the Law Says
Under Article 65 of Kuwait Labor Law No. 6 of 2010, working hours during the holy month of Ramadan are reduced to 36 hours per week — in practice, this typically means 6 hours per day across a standard 6-day working week, down from the normal 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week.
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Who does this apply to? The text of Article 65 sets the 36-hour week for the month of Ramadan itself, without limiting it explicitly to Muslim employees. Several legal guides state it applies to all staff regardless of religion. However, real-world employer practice varies — some companies apply the reduction company-wide, others only to Muslim or fasting staff. Always confirm your company's specific policy with HR ahead of Ramadan.
How the Shift Adjustment Works
Most employers keep your shift start time the same and simply shorten the day by moving your end time earlier. Break time is not counted as working time, so it stays the same length — only the working-hour portion of your day shrinks.
📐 Ramadan Shift Formula
Normal shift span = Working hours + Break duration
Ramadan shift span = 6 hours + Break duration (same break)
Ramadan end time = Start time + Ramadan shift span
Does Your Salary Change?
No. Your monthly salary stays exactly the same during Ramadan, even though you're working fewer hours. This means your effective hourly rate is technically higher during Ramadan — you're being paid the same amount for less time worked — though employers do not typically recalculate or separately compensate for this.
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Tip: Want to see your exact hourly rate? Use our
Hourly Rate Calculator with your normal working days — then compare it against your reduced Ramadan hours to see the effective increase.
Worked Example
Standard 8am–5pm Shift, 1-Hour Break
Normal shift8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (9-hr span)
Normal working hours8 hrs/day (break excluded)
Ramadan working hours6 hrs/day
Ramadan shift span (6 hrs + 1-hr break)7 hours
Ramadan shift8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Overtime During Ramadan
If your employer asks you to work beyond your reduced Ramadan hours, those extra hours are treated as overtime — subject to the same rates and caps that apply the rest of the year:
- 125% for weekday overtime beyond your Ramadan hours
- 150% for working your weekly rest day, plus a compensatory day off
- 200% for working a public holiday, plus a compensatory day off
- Capped at 2 hours/day and 180 hours/year in total across the whole year
Use our Overtime Calculator to work out exactly what you're owed for any extra hours during Ramadan.
Government Offices & Bank Hours
Government ministries and many banks in Kuwait typically publish their own separate, shortened Ramadan public-facing hours each year — these are usually different from, and shorter than, the standard 36-hour private-sector rule. Always check the specific ministry's or bank's own Ramadan announcement rather than assuming it matches your workplace schedule.
When Is Ramadan?
Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar, so its Gregorian start date shifts earlier by roughly 10–11 days every year and is only confirmed once Kuwait's Sharia moon-sighting authority officially sights the crescent moon — typically the evening before the fast begins. Astronomical predictions can be published in advance, but the final date can move by a day or two either way.
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2026: Ramadan was officially confirmed to begin in Kuwait on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, ending around 19 March 2026. 2027: Ramadan is expected around early-to-mid February 2027, with estimates varying by source — always confirm the exact date via official Kuwait moon-sighting announcements closer to the time.
Ramadan Working Hours Kuwait — FAQ
How many hours do I work during Ramadan in Kuwait?
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Under Article 65 of Kuwait Labor Law, working hours during Ramadan are reduced to 36 hours per week — typically 6 hours per day across a 6-day week. The law text doesn't limit this to any religion, though employer practice varies. Confirm your specific policy with HR.
Does my salary change during Ramadan in Kuwait?
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No. Your monthly salary stays exactly the same during Ramadan even though your hours are reduced. Your effective hourly rate is technically higher during Ramadan, though this isn't usually recalculated or separately paid out by employers.
Does the Ramadan hours reduction apply to non-Muslim employees?
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The text of Article 65 sets the 36-hour week for the month of Ramadan without limiting it to Muslim employees, and several legal guides state it applies to all staff. However, in practice many private employers only extend it to Muslim or fasting employees. Policies vary — confirm with HR.
What time does Ramadan start and end in Kuwait?
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Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar, shifting about 10-11 days earlier each year, and is only confirmed once Kuwait's Sharia moon-sighting authority sights the crescent moon. Astronomical predictions can be off by a day or two — check official announcements closer to the date.
Can my employer make me work more than 6 hours a day during Ramadan?
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Standard Ramadan hours are capped at 36/week under Article 65. Extra hours beyond your reduced schedule are treated as overtime, subject to the normal overtime rates (125%/150%/200%) and caps (2 hrs/day, 180 hrs/year).
Do government offices and banks have different Ramadan hours?
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Yes. Government ministries and many banks typically publish their own separate, shortened Ramadan hours each year, usually different from standard private-sector hours. Check the specific ministry's or bank's own announcement.
How is my break time handled in the Ramadan calculation?
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Break time isn't counted as working time under Kuwait Labor Law. This calculator keeps your normal break duration the same during Ramadan and reduces only the working-hour portion of your shift to reach the 6-hour daily target.
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Reviewed by the KuwaitCalculator.com Editorial Team — Last reviewed:
August 2026. Checked against Article 65 of Kuwait Labor Law No. 6 of 2010, published by the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM). See our
editorial standards & sources for how we verify every figure on this site.
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Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. The exact Ramadan start date is confirmed only by official Kuwait moon-sighting announcements and may differ from estimates shown here. Whether the Ramadan hours reduction applies to all staff or only Muslim employees varies by employer — always confirm your specific schedule with HR. KuwaitCalculator.com is not affiliated with any government entity.