The UAE Government and Federal entities will adopt a new four and a half day working week, effective from January 1, 2022.

The move applies to Federal government entities and comes alongside new working hours, with Monday to Thursday workdays now starting at 7.30am and ending at 3.30pm and Friday working hours from 7.30am-12.00pm.

Alongside the move, Friday sermons and prayers across the Emirates will be held from 1.15pm

Government staff will have the flexibility to make arrangements to work from home on Fridays, as well as to arrange their working hours on a flexi-time basis. The Emirates is the first nation in the world to introduce a national working week shorter than the global five-day week. The extended weekend comes as part of the UAE government’s efforts to boost worklife balance and enhance social wellbeing, while increasing performance to advance the UAE’s economic competitiveness.

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#UAE announces today that it will transition to a four and a half day working week, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday forming the new weekend.

All Federal government departments will move to the new weekend from January 1, 2022. pic.twitter.com/tQoa22pai9

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) December 7, 2021

Adopting an agile working system will enable the UAE to rapidly respond to emerging changes and enhance wellbeing in the workplace. From an economic perspective, the new working week will better align the Emirates with global markets, reflecting the country’s strategic status on the global economic map. It will ensure smooth financial, trade and economic transactions with countries that follow a Saturday/Sunday weekend, facilitating stronger international business links and opportunities for thousands of UAE-based and multinational companies.

The announcement was met with praise, with many from the private sector wondering if the news will eventually apply to them

 

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The Emirates is the first nation in the world to introduce a national working week shorter than the global five-day week

via GIPHY