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.”