Work weeks are reduced to four and half days.
The UAE will adopt Saturday and Sunday as the new weekend effective from 1 January 2022 it has been announced.
The move applies to Federal government entities and comes alongside new working hours that will see the adoption of a new four and a half day working work.
#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
Monday to Thursday workdays will now start at 7.30am and end at 3.30pm with Friday work hours scheduled between 7.30am to midday.
Friday prayers and prayers across the UAE will be held from 1.15pm and staff will have the flexibility to work from home on Fridays.
The extended weekend is a part of the UAE government’s efforts to boost work-life balance and enhance social wellbeing among residents as well as aligning the country to global stock markets which follow a Saturday/Sunday weekend.
The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources proposed the new workweek following comprehensive benchmarking and feasibility studies reflecting potential impacts of the move on the economy, social and family ties and the overall wellbeing of people in the UAE.
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