Ministry of Health working hours during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday: Full details

The Saudi Ministry of Health has officially announced the official working hours for all its health facilities during the holy month of Ramadan, in addition to specifying the dates for the Founder's Day and Eid al-Fitr holidays. This decision comes as part of the Ministry's commitment to organizing the work environment in a manner that aligns with the spirituality of the holy month, while ensuring the continued provision of high-quality and uninterrupted healthcare services.

Ramadan working hours details

The Ministry has set the daily working hours for categories covered by the Civil Service and Self-Employment Regulations at a single shift of only six hours. Official working hours begin at 10:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM. This reduction in working hours aligns with the established work practices in the Kingdom during Ramadan, which aim to ease the burden on those fasting and grant them sufficient time for worship and rest. This is an annual tradition followed by government institutions to promote a balance between professional life and religious obligations.

Exemption for medical staff and shift system

In a related context, the decision exempted staff working on a shift system from the reduced administrative hours. The Ministry emphasized the necessity for these employees to adhere to the approved work schedules in hospitals and health centers, including their shifts. This exemption reflects the paramount importance of the health sector, which cannot afford any work stoppages. The continued provision of medical care to patients around the clock is a national and humanitarian priority, ensuring the readiness of emergency and intensive care units to handle any emergencies during the holy month.

Founding Day and Eid al-Fitr holiday

The Ministry has approved the anniversary of the Founding Day as an official paid holiday for all employees in the health sector, in accordance with the generous royal directives to celebrate this historic national occasion that symbolizes the deep roots of the Saudi state. Regarding the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the details are as follows:

• For Saudi employees: The holiday begins at the end of the workday on Thursday, the 23rd of Ramadan, and continues until the end of Tuesday, the 5th of Shawwal.
• For non-Saudi staff: Their vacations begin on Thursday, the 30th of Ramadan, and continue for four actual working days according to the regulations.

Organizational and service importance

This regulatory announcement is a vital step to ensure the smooth operation of healthcare facilities, which typically experience a shift in patient patterns during Ramadan, with a surge in emergency room visits during evening hours. This early clarification of schedules enables hospital administrations to efficiently allocate staffing, positively impacting the quality of service provided to citizens and residents, and safeguarding the rights of healthcare professionals to take their accrued leave.