Will other Gulf states follow UAE decision to shift workweek?
The Emirates' push to better align its economy with global markets elicited mixed reactions across the Gulf.
The Gulf's first Western-style Monday-Friday workweek for public employees, rumored for years, is about to become a reality in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Arabian Peninsula's business hub where foreign residents outnumber locals nearly nine to one. Private companies are left with the flexibility to choose what “serves their business best.”
“This is extremely exciting news for the region”, said Hana Al Tareif, founder of Daresni, a Bahrain-based online platform that connects students and tutors. “It is great to see our brothers and sisters taking a first step to align itself with international markets.”
By moving away from the Sunday to Thursday workweek, the UAE breaks ranks with the rest of majority-Muslim Gulf nations, where families gather and attend weekly sermons on Friday, the Islamic holy day. Yet the UAE said businesses should give employees “ample breaks” to perform Friday prayer, while state employees will work half-day on Friday.
“I hope that Bahrain will also move to consider this legal change,” said Al Tareif.
