New UAE Saturday-Sunday weekend: How schools, government offices will be affected

  DUBAI – The UAE Government announced on Tuesday (December 7) that government sector employees will move to a Saturday-Sunday weekend starting on January 1. So how does this change the work week? Starting on January 1, public sector employees will work from Monday to Thursday, and a half day on Friday. Their weekend break will be on Saturday and Sunday. Under the new system, government sector employees will work from 7:30am until 3:30 pm from Monday to Thursday, and from 7:30pm until 12pm on Friday. Remote work options may be a possibility on Fridays, with Friday prayers held at 1:15pm. According to the UAE Government Media Office, the new weekend will "boost productivity and improve work-life balance". Authorities have yet to announce if the new work week will be implemented for private sector workers. For public and private schools, the new work week will also be implemented starting on January 1, with classes to be held from Monday to Thursday. Previously, the UAE adopted a Thursday-Friday weekend, which was changed in 2006 to the current Friday-Saturday weekend to put the country at pace with global market trends. ICA/Expat Media
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