Ramadan Working Hours in Saudi Arabia: How to Set Up Attendance Rules
Working hours change in Ramadan in Saudi Arabia. Set up seasonal shifts, overtime thresholds and reports in attendance software. Book a free demo.
Quick answer: In Saudi Arabia, normal working hours are reduced during Ramadan for Muslim employees under the Labour Law. Your attendance system should switch to a Ramadan rule set for the right dates, so lateness, overtime and monthly totals are calculated against the shorter day instead of the normal one.
Employers who forget this find the error at payroll: overtime looks inflated, or staff appear short of hours, because the system still expects a full day.
What Changes in Ramadan
| Item | Normal period | Ramadan |
|---|---|---|
| Daily working hours | Your standard policy | Reduced for Muslim employees |
| Shift start and end | Standard roster | Often a different roster |
| Overtime threshold | Based on the standard day | Based on the shorter day |
| Reporting | Standard monthly totals | Separate Ramadan period |
Check the current Labour Law text, any ministry announcements and your company policy for the exact figures and who they apply to, because arrangements for non-Muslim employees and certain sectors can differ.
What Is a Seasonal Rule Set?
A seasonal rule set is a group of shift, grace-period and overtime settings that apply only between two dates. You define it once with start and end dates and it applies automatically to the employee groups you choose.
Checklist Before Ramadan Starts
- Create Ramadan shift patterns for each department
- Set the rule set start and end dates
- Confirm overtime thresholds against the shorter day
- Review night and split shifts, which change most in retail and hospitality
- Decide how staff to whom the reduction does not apply are grouped
- Run a test report for one branch before the first day
Multi-City Employers
If you operate in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, apply one rule set to every branch and report on all of them together. Read the attendance system in Saudi Arabia guide and the workforce management system in KSA overview for more.
FAQ
Do Ramadan reduced hours apply to every employee in Saudi Arabia?
They apply to Muslim employees under the Labour Law. Check current guidance for exceptions and your sector.
How should overtime be calculated during Ramadan?
Against the reduced working day, following the Labour Law and your policy. Attendance software should apply this automatically for the Ramadan dates.
Can I apply the rule set to a group instead of each person?
Yes. Apply the seasonal rule set to an employee group, such as a department or a branch.
Does it work across several cities?
Yes. One rule set can cover all branches, and reports can be filtered by branch or company.
Conclusion
Set the rules once, before the month starts. Book a free Synktime demo and see a Ramadan rule set built on your own shifts.