UAE new workweek: Is this the first weekend shift?

The UAE's newly announced Saturday-Sunday weekend is not the first change of its kind in the country's history.

Since its inception, the UAE shifted its weekends on three different occasions:

Recommended For You

Lives at risk: UAE Filipinos watch in fear as typhoon Fung-wong batters the Philippines

'The Night Manager 2' teaser: Tom Hiddleston returns to unearth an arms conspiracy

Alcaraz off to winning start at ATP Finals with win over De Minaur

Should you ‘feed a cold and starve a fever’? Find out if the adage is true

Dubai residents can help shape the city's future through new community initiative

 

- 1971-1999: Friday was the official weekend.

- 1999-2006: The UAE added Thursday to the weekend, adopting a two-day weekly holiday.

- 2006-2021: The weekend was shifted to Friday and Saturday.

- 2022: From January 2022, the UAE is transitioning the weekend to Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday. The new system will be applied in government entities, schools and universities, but voluntary for the private sector to follow.

ALSO READ:

The 4.5-day working week, a first in the world to be implemented by a government, is expected to boost employee productivity and performance, enhance social wellbeing and align the UAE's labour market with major world economies.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com