December 2021
The UAE government announces today a four and a half day working week for federal government departments, effective from January 1, 2022. The new weekend will be Friday afternoon (from 12pm), Saturday and Sunday. This decision makes the Gulf Arab state one of the few places in the Middle East to operate on Western hours.
According to a tweet by the UAE Media Office, published on Tuesday December 7, the new system is to be applied in federal government entities. There will be eight working hours a day on Monday to Thursday, 7.30am to 3.30pm, followed by 4.5 working hours on Fridays, from 7.30am to 12pm.
The UAE Government Media Office said in the Tweet that the new longer weekends will “boost productivity and improve work-life balance.”
Friday sermons and prayers will be held at 1.15pm throughout the year.
There is no word yet on whether this new long weekend will be applicable to the private sector.
We will keep you updated. For further information please reach out to us at: uae@alyafi-ip.com
