UAE government has come up with a remarkable transition of weekends, the standard weekends in line with the rest of the world. As per the updates the new weekends will start on Friday after noon and with Saturday and Sunday full days off. As of now, employees are availing weekend offs on Friday and Saturday. With this move UAE has become the first ever country in the world to introduce more than 2 days of weekend.

Now the employees will be having only four and half working days in a week. The new system will be applicable from 01st January 2022. From the first day of New Year 2022, all the Ministry level staffs of the UAE will be having 4.5 working days with week end starting from Friday noon lasting through Saturday and Sunday. However, no updates are available whether the new system is applicable for the private sector too.

While the regular workweek is standardized to Monday to Friday in all other countries; Gulf countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia follows a workweek system starting from Sunday till Thursday. And the weekend starts on Friday being the Islamic Holy day and extended till Saturday.  

The UAE government said that the new shift in the weekend is aimed at boosting productivity and better work-life balance of the employees. The state news agency also reported that along with the changes in the workdays and weekends, all Federal Government departments will be working from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm on all days from Monday to Thursday and; from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm on Fridays.

As per the reports the schools will also aligned to the new workday- weekend system starting from January 1st, 2022. The government has also announced that the Friday prayers and sermons will be held after 1:15 pm throughout the year. Also, on Fridays which is a half day working; employees could also be allowed to choose flexible work or work from options.

Even though there are no updates on implementing the new weekend rule in the private employment sector, the authorities added that private companies are free to take decisions on this to work in tune with the government departments.

Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization Abdulrahman al-Awar stated “the move would ensure smooth financial, trade and economic transactions with countries that follow a Saturday-Sunday weekend, facilitating stronger international business links and opportunities for UAE-based and multinational firms”.

He also added that the change will impact state entities like the central bank, which would communicate details about the new working hours to commercial banks, and the UAE stock exchanges would also be more integrated with global markets.

"This change will enhance the integration of the banking sector in the UAE with the banking community internationally... it will also eliminate the gap that existed in the past,"Mr. al-Awar stated.

Nabil Alyousuf, chief executive officer of Dubai-based International Advisory Group said, “This will align the UAE with global markets and make it easier for international corporations to do business.”

Earlier the UAE weekends were Thursday and Friday, and later in 2006 the UAE government shifted the weekends to Friday and Saturday which is now getting changed. This move was quite beneficial for them and the new decision is being made after comprehensive evaluations and feasibility studies.

The move is expected to boost not only trading opportunities but also add to the flexible, secure, and enjoyable lifestyle the UAE offers its citizens and residents. Investors have said a Monday-Friday working week could attract more foreign capital and boost liquidity on Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s stock markets. 

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