Working Practices
The working week traditionally starts on Saturday and ends on Wednesday. The working day runs from 8am to 1pm. Business resumes after the temperatures have begun to cool from 4pm and carries on until 7pm. During Ramadan the working day is two hours shorter. Annual leave is usually 22 working days or 30 calendar days.
Public (Bank) Holidays - 2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
17 Jun Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet)
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
25 Oct Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
15 Nov Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year)
2 Dec National Day
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given here are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.
