The UAE’s Midday Break is an annual summer safety measure, not a new one-off restriction. It creates a fixed daily window when work under direct sun and in open places must stop, while setting out safety provisions for outdoor worksites.
For workers, companies and members of the public, the practical questions are straightforward: when the restriction applies, which work it covers, what limited exemptions exist and how a possible breach can be reported.
Under the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s Occupational Heat Stress Prevention Policy, the Midday Break follows the same annual timetable.
The annual period runs from June 15 to September 15. The daily restricted hours are 12:30 pm to 3 pm. The rule covers work carried out under direct sun and in open places. Covered work must stop during the restricted hours unless it falls within a limited exemption.
The wording matters. The policy addresses exposed outdoor work; it is not a general afternoon closure of every workplace.
The official sources reviewed for this explainer define the restriction through its dates, hours and work setting. They do not establish a temperature threshold of 45°C or 50°C for the ban to begin.
The Midday Break involves more than changing a work schedule. MoHRE says companies must provide suitable rest and heat-safety arrangements at worksites.
These include shaded areas for workers during the break or while carrying out permitted duties; adequate cooling equipment, such as fans; sufficient drinking water to prevent dehydration; hydration supplies, including electrolytes or equivalent materials approved by local authorities; and first-aid supplies at the worksite.
These measures are especially important when an exempt task must continue during the restricted period. An exemption from stopping work does not remove the requirement to provide water, shade, cooling, hydration support and first aid.
MoHRE provides limited exemptions for work that must continue uninterrupted for technical or public-interest reasons.
Examples include laying asphalt or pouring concrete when postponing the work until after the break is not feasible; work needed to contain a hazard or repair damage affecting the community, including interruptions to essential services; and work that requires a permit from a competent government authority because of its effect on public services, traffic or mobility.
These examples should not be treated as a general exemption for any urgent commercial deadline. Whether a particular task qualifies depends on the applicable official requirements and circumstances.
Where work is permitted to continue, companies must still maintain the required safety arrangements for the people carrying it out.
MoHRE’s June 3, 2025 Midday Break announcement states that a violating company can be fined AED 5,000 for each worker per breach, up to AED 50,000 when several workers are involved.
The ministry accepts reports from workers and other members of the community through the MoHRE call centre at 600590000, the MoHRE mobile app and the MoHRE website.
People using these channels can report what they observed; MoHRE is responsible for assessing whether the circumstances amount to a violation.
The Midday Break is a recurring rule with a clear scope. Work under direct sun and in open places is prohibited during the specified summer hours, subject to limited exemptions. It should not be reduced to a voluntary rest recommendation, but it should also not be described as a blanket shutdown of all work.
Claims about automatic suspension of new work permits, wages or other case-specific legal consequences require separate current official support and are not part of this explainer.
Workers, employers or members of the public seeking guidance about a specific situation should use MoHRE’s official channels. This article provides general public information and is not legal advice.
