Ramadan 2023 in UAE: 9 changes in schools during the holy month

Ramadan 2023 in UAE: 9 changes in schools during the holy month

The spring and end-of-term breaks coincide with the start of the holy month this year

Published: Wed 22 Feb 2023, 6:00 AM

The holy month of Ramadan, which begins in less than 30 days in the UAE, is a time for spirituality for residents. With shorter working hours, Muslims use the extra time they get to pray and for other acts of worship.

The learning process also switches gears, with schools typically having five-hour days during Ramadan. This year, the spring and end-of-term breaks at schools will coincide with the start of the holy month. This means most students will get up to two weeks off during the month of fasting.

1. Shorter school hours

“We expect our standard timings to be from 8am until 1pm each day. Schools usually have a choice, and can start anytime from 8am to 9am, and end between 1pm and 2pm, as long as the day is a maximum of five hours,” said Rob Commons, principal, Uptown International School.

A survey of the school community suggested that the preference was for the earlier start time.

“This was to meet with family needs, with each family taking Suhoor (pre-fast meal) before sunrise, and then staying awake until the end of school at