Welcome to part one of Global Mobility Insights for 2024. Within this first of three articles, you will find a summary of key events & challenges which are likely to impact your global mobility programme over the coming weeks and months.
You will also find guidance from K2 on how best to approach these challenges/mitigate their impact.
Chinese New Year & what it means to global mobility activity with China & Taiwan
Celebrations for Chinese New Year commence on Saturday 10th February 2024, launching the year of the Dragon. Whilst the festivities can last up to 16 days, depending on the country, only 7 days are considered a public holiday.
Listed below are the holiday closure dates for countries across the APAC region. Closures will include service partners, government offices and customs departments: this will impact all services but especially critical ones such as immigration processing and shipment clearance.
We anticipate difficulties securing appointments with government departments, booking airline and vessel space and a general shortage of manpower during the immediate 5-7 working days before and after the holiday, especially in China and Taiwan.
Freight and customs clearance delays will be influenced by the availability of vessels and flights, customs clearance officials and airport and seaport operational capabilities.
Destination service programmes will also be impacted, especially for property viewings, as most landlords defer this activity until after the Chinese New Year festivities.
During the festive period, K2’s Singapore Office will be closed on Monday 12th February; otherwise, normal operating hours will apply.
| Location | Holiday closure dates |
| China | 9th to 18th Feb |
| Hong Kong | 9th to 13th Feb |
| Indonesia | 8th Feb (Ascension of Prophet Mohammad) 9th to 11th Feb for CNY 14th Feb (Indonesia 2024 General Election) |
| Malaysia | 10th to 12th Feb |
| Singapore | 10th to 12th Feb |
| South Korea | 8th to 14th Feb |
| Taiwan | 8th to 14th Feb |
| Vietnam | 8th to 14th Feb |
Ramadan expected dates
Ramadan 2024 is expected to take place between Monday 11th March and Tuesday 9th April. These dates may change slightly based on the moon sighting: the Islamic calendar is lunar-based and therefore each month corresponds to the phases of the moon and lasts either 29 or 30 days.
The end of Ramadan is marked by the Eid Al Fitr holidays, otherwise known as the ‘Holiday of Breaking the Fast’. If, as predicted, Ramadan begins on Monday 11th March, Eid al Fitr will fall almost a month later on Tuesday 9th April.
Should this take place, UAE workers – both in the private and public sectors – will enjoy a nine-day break. This is because Eid al Fitr holidays are granted from Ramadan 29 (Monday 8th April) to Shawwal 3 (Friday 12th April).
During Ramadan, both Muslim and non-Muslim employees observe a reduced working day (typically the day is shortened by 2 hours); over the Eid break, operations tend to completely shut down. This invariably leads to delays across the region.
Expatriate residents and visitors should refrain from wearing revealing clothing out of respect for those observing Ramadan. A practice which should be observed at all times in the Middle East, it is particularly important during the month of Ramadan.
Finally, during Ramadan, traffic will be heavier than normal within an hour of sunset. Where possible, travelling within an hour of sunset should be avoided; those who must travel should be willing to be flexible with their plans as they are likely to experience delays.
During Ramadan, K2’s Dubai Office will operate reduced opening hours, and will be closed over the Eid break. Specific timings and days will be confirmed following the moon sighting.
