Why Did Uae Change Weekend?

Why Did Uae Change Weekend

Why is the UAE changing its weekend?

On the first ever working Friday in the United Arab Emirates, employees and schoolchildren juggled work and study with weekly Muslim prayers. This came as the Gulf country officially moved to a Saturday-Sunday weekend schedule. Other people were unhappy with the move, and companies responded in a variety of ways.

While many switched to a weekend more typical of the West, some private enterprises chose to continue operating on Fridays and Saturdays, similar to how it is done in other Gulf states.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the weekly day of prayer has traditionally been regarded as a day of rest.
Prior to 2006, the UAE recognized weekends only on Thursdays and Fridays.

Worshippers carrying prayer mats looked to be busy as they entered mosques as normal, and many of them afterwards proceeded back to work. Rachel King, a Briton in her twenties who has been working in the hospitality business in Dubai for the past half a year, said, “I’d rather take off.” King has been in Dubai for the past six months.

“We are all familiar with and fond of this practice: having the day off on Friday, travelling to various locations where we may engage in activities since those locations are open. On the other hand, tomorrow is going to be Saturday.” As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) struggled to keep up with increased competition in international commerce from other Gulf countries, notably Saudi Arabia, it made the unexpected announcement in December that it would transfer the working days of the public sector to weekends.

On Fridays, public institutions and schools will remain open for four and a half days each week before closing at midday to observe a predetermined prayer period that lasts until 1:15 pm. In most cases, the prayer schedule followed by Muslims is determined by the location of the sun.

Only 23% of the 195 companies that were polled by the human resources firm Mercer were planning to implement a four-and-a-half day work week, but more than 50% of them would move to weekend schedules that included both Saturday and Sunday. Fati, who works in an international distribution firm and asked not to disclose her full name, said, “It’s a blessing that I get the same days off as my children, but that’s not the situation for my husband.” Fati works in the United States.

“He is employed by a global company that has not yet made any changes to its work routine. If they don’t get it done immediately, it will seriously disrupt the normal functioning of our household.” According to the results of a research conducted by Mercer, about one third of businesses are concerned about the effects that may arise from being out of step with other nations in the area.

Rana, an employee at an events firm, mentioned that some of her teams would need to put in extra hours on the weekend since they had a lot of business with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Due to a high number of people working from home, Dubai’s financial center was unusually quiet on Friday. This was especially notable during a period of increasing Covid levels, during which a big number of youngsters also participated in online schooling.

A worker in the banking industry named Ahmad Bilbisi, who is 34 years old, remarked that “this is the first working Friday, and it seems a bit unusual.” “To me, at least in regard to the financial sector, that makes perfect sense. The day that everyone else in the world works is now also the day that we do our jobs.” The new arrangement generated a lot of discussion on social media, with one user of Twitter expressing their dissatisfaction by saying, “It just seems so wrong.” “Both my physical being and my mental state have been totally accustomed to having the weekend off on Fridays.

Why has Dubai changed weekend?

On February 14, 2018, workers can be seen on a footbridge in Dubai. Karim Sahib | AAFP | Getty Images DUBAI, Emirate of the United Arab Emirates — Even though it has been more than two months since the United Arab Emirates switched to a Monday to Friday working week in order to be more aligned with international business partners, both the country’s natives and its enormous population of expats are still getting used to the change, although the vast majority acknowledge that it was a change that was much needed.

The traditional work week that ran in this country from Sunday through Thursday was discontinued on January 1st of this year. Employees of the government now work Monday through Thursday, with the option of working a flexible half day on Friday, which has traditionally been a holy day for Muslims across the world.

The Friday lectures and prayers that used to take place at noon have been moved to take place after 1:15 p.m. This transition has been reflected throughout the educational system, and despite the fact that the private sector was not given any explicit directives, many companies instantly followed suit.

When was weekend changed in UAE?

The United Arab Emirates has implemented a shortened workweek, as seen in this file photo. Originally published: Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 2:56 p.m. Monday, January 3, 2022, 9:22 a.m., most recent update The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is planning to implement a reduced workweek beginning in the year 2022.

The country’s weekend would begin to more closely resemble that of global markets from January 1, 2022, when it would consist of a half-day on Friday, followed by Saturday and Sunday.
Since Sharjah has moved to a four-day work week, employees now have both Saturday and Sunday off in addition to the full day off on Friday.

Here is a rundown of all the alterations that have been made to the timing:

Why is the weekend Friday and Saturday in UAE?

The administration of the United Arab Emirates has stated that the decision was made in order to “better connect the Emirates with global markets,” which reflects the strategic importance of the country on the global economic map. The administration stated that the three-day weekend will ‘increase productivity and promote work-life balance’ in their announcement.

When did UAE change Friday to Saturday?

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) made history in the Gulf region in 2006 when it became the first country in the region to switch the days of its weekend from Thursday and Friday to Friday and Saturday.

Is UAE moving to Saturday Sunday weekend?

On June 12, 2021, a panoramic picture of the Burj Khalifa and the downtown skyline of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. — Reuters/File Why Did Uae Change Weekend On this, the first ever working Friday, employees and students alike manage their job and school responsibilities with the weekly Muslim prayers. In December, the UAE made the unexpected announcement that the weekend shift will be implemented across the public sector.

On Fridays, government agencies and schools will remain open until 12 p.m.
after operating for four and a half days each week.
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) formally moved to a Saturday-Sunday weekend as workers and schoolchildren juggled work and studies with weekly Muslim prayers on the first-ever working Friday.

The change took place when the UAE officially transitioned to a Saturday-Sunday weekend. Other people were unhappy with the move, and companies responded in a variety of ways. While many switched to a weekend more typical of the West, some private enterprises chose to continue operating on Fridays and Saturdays, similar to how it is done in other Gulf states.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the weekly day of prayer has traditionally been regarded as a day of rest.
Prior to 2006, the UAE recognized weekends only on Thursdays and Fridays.
Worshippers carrying prayer mats looked to be arriving at mosques in the typical manner, and after their prayers, many of them went back to work.

Rachel King, a Briton of 22 years old who works in the hospitality business and has been residing in Dubai for the past six months, stated that she would prefer to have the day off on Friday. “Having a day off on Friday, visiting to various locations that are open, and participating in activities is something that all of us are accustomed to and enjoy.

On the other hand, tomorrow is going to be Saturday.” As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attempts to deal with increasing competition in international commerce from other Gulf nations, notably Saudi Arabia, it made the unexpected announcement in December that it will convert the working days of the public sector to the weekends.

The government and schools will only be open for four and a half days each week, shutting at noon on Fridays in order to allow for a scheduled prayer hour of 1:15 p.m. This is in contrast to the traditional Muslim prayer schedule, which is determined by the location of the sun.

Only 23% of the 195 companies that were polled by the human resources firm Mercer were planning to implement a four-and-a-half day work week, but more than 50% of them would move to weekend schedules that included both Saturday and Sunday.
Fati, who works in an international distribution firm and asked not to disclose her full name, said, “It’s a blessing that I get the same days off as my children, but that’s not the situation for my husband.” Fati works in the United States.

What country has a 3 day weekend?

Scotland As a result of the fact that a number of individuals have expressed a desire to have a four-day work week and a three-day weekend, the nation is reportedly mulling over several strategies for how this may be implemented.

Does Dubai have a 3 day weekend?

According to a local, it is preferable to put in one more hour of labor each day in exchange for three days off each week. – Date of Publication: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 3:13 p.m. This page was last modified at 11:53 AM on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Carine El Natour, a Lebanese expat who currently resides in Dubai and works as a communications professional for a company there, has had 26 additional days off of work this year in comparison to the same time period in the previous year.

This is due to the fact that her company went from having a 5-day workweek to a 4-day workweek, which resulted in the introduction of a 3-day weekend.
The government of the UAE has stated that workweeks would extend to four and a half days beginning in January 2022, with lunch breaks on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The state sector in the UAE was not the only sector to change their work week; many private companies in the UAE did the same thing. While others choose to follow the example set by the Sharjah administration and work only four days each week. “The transition to a four-day work week resulted in a perception on my part that I worked less hours each week; but, if we are able to master the art of time management, we will be able to complete the same amount of work in four days as we do in five.

But then you have a three-day weekend, which is something that virtually everyone wishes they could have.
Additionally, the four-day workweek provides a much improved work-life balance “added Natour.
“There isn’t a lot of chaos.
Put in an additional hour of work every day, and we won’t even know it’s there.

It is preferable to put in one more hour of work each day as opposed to one extra day of work each week. Because of the additional time it affords me to indulge in my interests and relax, I am grateful for this opportunity “Additionally, she said. After introducing a four-day and a four-and-a-half day workweek, employees in the UAE say they have become more productive and relaxed and enjoy a better work-life balance.

Meanwhile, employers have remarked that staff attendance has improved since the beginning of this year.
Sawsan Ghanem is now serving as a joint managing director at Active DMC.
Sawsan Ghanem, joint managing director of Active DMC, stated that there were challenges initially when they introduced a four-day week in September 2021.

He said that this was because the team needed to change their approach to work because they were required to plan more and think more carefully about things in detail. “The comments and feedback from the staff are quite positive, and many report that they return to the workplace on Mondays feeling revitalized and renewed.

The employees get the impression that they have been cut off from their work and are detached.
It is a matter of the mind, and the fact that one day has been cut has caused a fundamental shift in perspective.
Because of this, they will be more productive as a result “— I quote her.
Abigail Xavier.
According to Abigail Xavier, who works for a business that specializes in financial technology, her level of productivity has increased since the reduction in the number of hours she is required to work from five to four and a half.

“Because I am less stressed out during the week, I have been able to boost the overall productivity of my work. It does not appear that I have any outstanding personal obligations that are preventing me from concentrating on my career. I’ve had a good night’s sleep and am more inspired to get things done now that I realize how little time I have left to complete so that I can finish everything on time “said Xavier, a Pakistani national.

Carlo Markarian, originally from Lebanon and currently residing in Dubai, describes how at first it felt strange but is now enjoying the experience very much.
“I try to keep my workload light on Fridays since, for some reason, time seems to fly by in Dubai at a rate that is twice as fast as it does everywhere else in the globe.

It seems more like four days have passed than four and a half days have. We make every effort to complete our work before the weekend.” On Fridays, Markarian and his coworkers take advantage of the day off by going to the beach or running errands. Ola Lind, CEO FTFT Capital Investments.

According to Ola Lind, Chief Executive Officer of FTFT Capital Investments, a four-and-a-half day work week helps people feel more comfortable and achieve a better balance between their professional and personal lives.
“We have a better work attendance and people believe that it’s a more balanced lifestyle and they generate better outcomes at work than they did previously when it was a five day week,” he added.

“We have a better work attendance and people feel that it’s a more balanced living.” The director-general of Ajman Free Zone, Ali AlSuwaidi, stated that a four-day work week is a game-changer in terms of the health advantages, higher productivity, and economic payback it offers. Dubai has announced a modification in the days on which paid parking will be required. According to the poll, young folks are going to be most impacted by the new policy change in the UAE. What recourse do workers in the United Arab Emirates now have in the event that they are overworked? Now that it’s the weekend in the UAE, expat families are grateful that they may go to church on Sunday. “The results of Covid-19 have shown that it is both simpler and acceptable for employees to have greater flexibility in how and where they work. The new change is resulting in employees who are more devoted to their work, happier overall, and less likely to take time off due to stress or illness because they have more time to rest and recuperate after their shifts.

Because of this, when they go back to work, they have more energy and are more prepared to take on new tasks.
It has been shown that when individuals are under less pressure, they are more receptive to their intuition, and they offer their utmost effort in their work “he remarked.
Mayank Patel, Director of Operations at Adecco in the Middle East According to Mayank Patel, the country head of Adecco Middle East, employees have a tendency to be more productive throughout the day since they are aware that the week is short and that significant tasks and strategic goals need to be done.

Certain industries, including tourism, banking and financial services, customer service, hospitality, retail, e-commerce, delivery services, and retail all stand to profit from a shortened work week. “Because of the high demand for part-time and contract workers over long weekends and seasonal hirings, there are now more options for young people to find employment.

Why is Friday not a weekend?

Is It Already The Weekend If It’s Friday? No, Friday is not a weekend. A weekend, according to the conventional definition, is “the conclusion of a week, particularly the period of time between Friday evening and Monday morning.” According to this interpretation, Friday by itself is not considered to be part of the weekend.

Instead, the weekend begins on Friday night and continues until Sunday night.
As soon as the last shift on Friday wraps up, the working week is officially over, and the weekend can officially begin.
The weekend will go over into Saturday and Sunday as well.
It winds down somewhere in the small hours of Monday morning, far before the start of the workweek once more.

One further interpretation of “weekend” makes the situation more complicated. “This period as prolonged by one or more holidays, days off, or the like, that immediately precede or follow,” is the second definition of the term “weekend.” A perfect illustration of this would be a three-day weekend.

This may also include Friday on occasion.
For instance, if a holiday is on a Friday, you could receive that day off in addition to Saturday and Sunday if it also falls on the weekend.
In this particular scenario, Friday is considered to be part of the weekend.
In order to grant yourself a three-day weekend, you may also ask your employer for a day off of work.

The weekend will begin once more with the arrival of Friday. A weekend may be defined as “Any two-day time taken or provided regularly as a weekly relaxation period from one’s job.” This is the definitive description of what a weekend is. This definition broadens the concept of a weekend to include any period of relaxation that is comprised of two consecutive days.

This provides assistance to those individuals who have sporadic days off from job. For instance, a person’s job schedule may provide them with the Thursday and Friday off. Due to the fact that they have a break from work for two consecutive days, Friday is considered to be a component of their weekend in this scenario.

Someone else may get the weekend off on Friday and Saturday but have to work on Sunday. Since there will be no work to do for both of these days, Friday will count as the first day of the weekend. In many cultures, Friday is not considered to be part of the weekend.

Is Saturday the new Friday in UAE?

The vast majority of Arabs living in Arab countries, both expatriates and locals, observe that Saturday has mostly replaced Friday. On both Saturday and Sunday, the number of Western and Asian expats was almost equal.

What is the new Friday in UAE?

Under the new work structure, government employees and some staff members in the private sector would work for only half a day on Fridays. – File Originally published: Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 12:18 p.m. Most recent update: Thursday, January 6, 2022, 9:03 PM On Fridays, employees of the federal government who live a significant distance from their places of employment or who have compelling reasons to do so will be given precedence for working from home.

This happened as the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources announced new standards for working remotely in conjunction with the United Arab Emirates’ shift to a reduced workweek. Under the new work paradigm, workers in the public sector and some positions in the private sector will be required to put in a reduced amount of time on Fridays.

The new weekend schedule in the country consists of a half-day on Friday, followed by Saturday and Sunday. On Fridays, departments and agencies of the federal government have the option of implementing more flexible working hours and working from home.

However, they are responsible for ensuring that at least seventy percent of their workforce is present at all times in order to service customers and maintain an orderly flow of business operations. In addition to this, the organization has to identify which kinds of employment are suitable for the work-from-home model.

On Fridays, employees will be required to obtain prior consent from their immediate boss in order to work from home. The processing of the permission needs to be done in collaboration with the head of the department as well as the HR department. The new workweek system, which went into effect at the beginning of 2022, was designed with the intention of assisting workers in achieving a healthier balance between their personal and professional lives and enhancing their overall level of productivity.

The majority of private enterprises across the country have switched to a Saturday-Sunday weekend without adopting the half-day Friday off, in contrast to the trend in the public sector, which has moved to a four-and-a-half day workweek.
ALSO READ: The new UAE workweek starts today, with 10 important schedule adjustments to take note of, and an explanation of the 2-day weekend.

Only 23% of private sector companies in the UAE will embrace a 4.5-day workweek with the introduction of a new weekend. The new week begins on Monday. How workers in the UAE have adapted to the new five-day workweek More companies in the UAE are using hybrid, work-from-home models as cases, according to Covid.

rise The workdays of federal government employees begin at 7:30 in the morning and conclude at 3:30 in the afternoon, Monday through Thursday. The hours of operation on Friday are from 7:30 am to 12 pm. In order to accommodate the employees’ schedules and allow them to take part in the collective act of worship that takes place on Fridays, the prayers and preaching will begin at 1:15 p.m.

Staff members at private businesses are being given prayer breaks throughout the middle of the workday so that they can participate in the prayer.

Does the UAE work on Friday?

Frequently Asked Questions: What Are the Working Hours in the UAE? According to Article 65 of the UAE Labor Law, the maximum number of regular working hours that an employee can be required to work in a week is 48 hours, which breaks down to 8 hours each day.

There are, however, a few exceptions that apply to those who work in businesses such as hotels and restaurants. It is possible that they will have to put in up to nine hours of labour each day. Offices in the United Arab Emirates normally open between the hours of 8 and 9 in the morning and shut between 5 and 6 in the evening.

Is Saturday a working day in Dubai? Only Friday is recognized as a national holiday in the UAE (Friday is the Islamic holy day). Sunday through Thursday make up the heart of the typical working week in both the commercial and public sectors, while Friday and Saturday are considered to be the weekend.

On the other hand, many employees in private businesses put in six days (or five and a half) of labor per week. As stipulated by the legislation, the employees only get the day off on Fridays. Is there a curfew in Dubai on Fridays? On Fridays, most businesses and public institutions in Dubai are closed, with the exception of banks and government offices.

On Fridays, most stores and businesses, including shopping centers, supermarkets, restaurants, and eateries, and shops, are open. The additional demand generally keeps them working past their normal hours. The Dubai Metro begins service at 10 am and operates until 1 am the following morning.

Why are weekends different in Middle East?

Friday, which is the holiest day of the week in Islam and the focal point of the weekend, has historically been the day around which the working week in the Arab world has been organized. This has resulted in some Muslim majority countries having their weekend on Thursday and Friday rather than Friday and Saturday.

However, many other Muslim majority countries have sought to align themselves more closely with the rest of the world by designating a working week that begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday, with the weekend falling on Friday and Saturday.
Then there are certain countries in the area that adhere to the same working schedule as the West and the rest of the world outside of the Arab world in an effort to boost economic competitiveness and bring themselves into alignment with global markets.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the most recent country to change its weekend to begin on Saturday rather than Sunday beginning in the month of January. The following is the current condition throughout the Middle East:

Will Saudi change its weekend?

According to a minister, Saudi Arabia is doing research on a new labor system in order to increase employment opportunities and entice investors. Image courtesy of the archives of the Gulf News. Cairo/Dubai: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia has refuted allegations in the media stating that the government is mulling over the possibility of implementing a three-day weekend.

The government issued a summons to the media, urging them to verify facts before publishing any claims. The rejection follows allegations in the media claiming that the Kingdom is going to convert to a work structure with four days off each week. According to the sources, Saudi Arabia is looking at implementing a new labor system in order to increase the number of available employment and to entice more investors.

During a news conference held in the nation’s capital city of Riyadh, the Saudi Minister of Human Resources Ahmed Al Rajhi was reportedly cited as saying, “The labor system is being reviewed with the purpose of making Saudi Arabia an attraction to investors.” He was responding to a query on the potential implementation in the kingdom of a shortened work week consisting of only four days, which would provide employees with a three-day weekend.

“While we are interested in setting work hours and days, we are also interested in making the market an attraction to investors and creating jobs,” he added, without giving details about the envisaged work week.
“While we are interested in setting work hours and days, we are also interested in making the market an attraction to investors and creating jobs.” The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is home to a sizable population of foreign workers.

Major labor changes were implemented in the kingdom in March of last year, allowing for more job mobility and limiting the granting of exit and re-entry visas for foreign employees without the consent of their employers. Why Did Uae Change Weekend

Which countries have Friday as weekend?

It is possible that Islamic religious festivals and holidays will have a substantial impact on the opening hours of businesses as well as the work schedules of employees. This is especially true of the holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which adherent Muslims are permitted to enjoy for a total of three days.

In addition, it is common for work schedules to be altered during the month of Ramadan. Prayer on Friday is required and takes place from noon to the middle of the afternoon; however, people are free to pray before noon if they so want. The Muslim world celebrates the weekend on a variety of days, depending on whatever country one is in: Morocco, Pakistan, and Tunisia observe the weekend on Saturday and Sunday; Somalia and Yemen observe the weekend on Thursday and Friday; Afghanistan, Djibouti, Iran, and Palestine observe the weekend on Friday; Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates observe the weekend on Friday and Saturday; Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Oman (Christian and most Muslim communities).

Variations in practices are inevitable within the Muslim community due to the size and dispersion of its adherents around the globe. This calendar provides a high-level overview of the rituals and ceremonies that are associated with each occasion.

Does Dubai have a 3 day weekend?

This is due to the fact that her company went from having a 5-day workweek to a 4-day workweek, which resulted in the introduction of a 3-day weekend. The government of the UAE has stated that workweeks would extend to four and a half days beginning in January 2022, with lunch breaks on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

What happened after the UAE changed its work week

But then you have a three-day weekend, which is something that virtually everyone wishes they could have.
Additionally, the four-day workweek provides a much improved work-life balance “added Natour.
“There isn’t a lot of chaos.
Put in an additional hour of work every day, and we won’t even know it’s there.

It is preferable to put in one more hour of work each day as opposed to one extra day of work each week. Because of the additional time it affords me to indulge in my interests and relax, I am grateful for this opportunity “Additionally, she said. After implementing a four-day and a four-and-a-half day workweek, employees in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) believe they have become more productive and relaxed, and they enjoy a better work-life balance.

Meanwhile, employers have noted that staff attendance has improved since the beginning of this year.
Sawsan Ghanem is now serving as a joint managing director at Active DMC.
Sawsan Ghanem, joint managing director of Active DMC, stated that there were challenges initially when they introduced a four-day week in September 2021.

The employees get the impression that they have been cut off from their work and are detached.
It is a matter of the mind, and the fact that one day has been cut has caused a fundamental shift in perspective.
Because of this, they will be more productive as a result “— I quote her.
Abigail Xavier.
According to Abigail Xavier, who works for a business that specializes in financial technology, her level of productivity has increased since the reduction in the number of hours she is required to work from five to four and a half.

Carlo Markarian, originally from Lebanon and currently residing in Dubai, describes how at first it felt strange but is now enjoying the experience very much. “I try to keep my workload light on Fridays since, for some reason, time seems to fly by in Dubai at a rate that is twice as fast as it does everywhere else in the globe.

According to Ola Lind, Chief Executive Officer of FTFT Capital Investments, a four-and-a-half day work week helps people feel more comfortable and achieve a better balance between their professional and personal lives. “We have a better work attendance and people believe that it’s a more balanced lifestyle and they generate better outcomes at work than they did previously when it was a five day week,” he added.

“The results of Covid-19 have shown that it is both simpler and acceptable for employees to have greater flexibility in how and where they work. The new change is resulting in employees who are more devoted to their work, happier overall, and less likely to take time off due to stress or illness because they have more time to rest and recuperate after their shifts.

Because of this, when they go back to work, they have more energy and are more prepared to take on new tasks. It has been discovered that when individuals are under less stress, they are more perceptive, and they put their utmost effort to the task that they are doing “he remarked.

Mayank Patel, Director of Operations at Adecco in the Middle East According to Mayank Patel, the country head of Adecco Middle East, employees have a tendency to be more productive throughout the day since they are aware that the week is short and that significant tasks and strategic goals need to be done.

Is Saudi changing their weekend?

This picture is merely being used to illustrate a point. Report from the Gulf Today The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has put a stop to the media speculation of a change in weekend by having the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development disclaim any such plan as of now.

This has put an end to the conjecture that was being spread by the media.
Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has requested that all media outlets ensure they have accurate information before releasing any news.
Earlier, there were rumors circulating that the Kingdom is planning to reduce its working week to just consist of four days.

However, according to Ahmed Al Rajhi, the Saudi Minister of Human Resources, the country is interested in establishing work hours and days, but at the same time, it is interested in making the market an attractive place for investors and in creating jobs.

While the country is interested in setting work hours and days, it is also interested in creating jobs.
This picture is merely being used to illustrate a point.
It is important to note that in June of 2013, Saudi Arabia switched their weekend from taking place on Thursday and Friday to taking place on Friday and Saturday.

The new work week format was implemented by the UAE government on January 1, 2022. This change took effect immediately. In accordance with the new legislation, employees will be required to put in a full week’s worth of labor every other week. The United Arab Emirates is the first country in the world to implement a national working week that is shorter than the standard five-day workweek used globally.

The weekend will be off for the holidays on Saturday and Sunday, while Friday will be a three-quarter day. There have also been trials just like this one in Spain, Iceland, the United States of America, and Canada. It is anticipated that both Australia and New Zealand will get theirs underway in the month of August.

Even some businesses in the United Kingdom are thinking about trying out a four-day workweek.