The United Arab Emirates is slashing its official working week to four and a half days and moving its weekend to Saturday and Sunday in a major shift aimed at improving competitiveness, officials say.
The “national working week” is mandatory for government bodies from January 1 and bucks the regional norm of a full day off on Friday for Muslim prayers.
Scott Livermore, chief economist at Oxford Economics Middle East, an advisory firm, said businesses can choose their working week but are likely to align with the public sector.
A general view of the Marina district towers is seen from the observation deck of “The View at The Palm Jumeirah” in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
While becoming the only Gulf country not to have a Friday-Saturday weekend, the resource-rich and ambitious UAE now comes into line with the non-Arab world.
Under the new timetable, the public-sector weekend starts at noon on Fridays and ends on Sunday. Friday prayers at mosques will be held after 1:15 p.m.
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