Dubai: Officials in Sharjah on Thursday announced a change to a three-day weekend for the official sector. The development was stated by the United Arab Emirates that it would reduce the official working week to four and a half days.
According to an AFP report, the working week for Sharjah’s government agencies will now be from Monday to Thursday. The weekend will be between Friday and Sunday.
AFP reported that the Sharjah Executive Council said its decision was taken “in line with the UAE’s vision to enhance its competitive position”.
The new rules will come into effect from January 1. The council said it would “support the business environment and economic market, and keep pace with global developments”.
As per the new timetable, the public sector weekend will begin at noon on Friday and end on Sunday. The Friday prayers in mosques will be held after 1:15 pm throughout the year.
With the UAE becoming the only Gulf country not to have a Friday-Saturday weekend, the United Arab Emirates has now joined the non-Arab world.
AFP reported that the Western-style weekend, which had been rumored for years, was announced less than a week after the former British protectorate celebrated the 50th anniversary of its formation.
The United Arab Emirates observed a Thursday–Friday weekend until 2006, when it switched to Fridays and Saturdays with the private sector.
State news agency WAM said the move is aimed at “better aligning the UAE with global markets”, calling the new working week the shortest in the world.
The WAM report said, “The extended weekend comes as part of the UAE Government’s efforts to promote work-life balance and enhance social well-being, while increasing performance to advance the UAE’s economic competitiveness.” Is.”
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