The story: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it will adopt a four-and-a-half-day workweek. Saturday and Sunday will become the new weekend when the changes take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. Emirati officials believe that the change will “enhance the UAE’s position as a global economic center,” as the Gulf state seeks foreign investment in accordance with its new development agenda.

The coverage: The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that the UAE government will change the work schedule, beginning next year.

Like most Arab Muslim countries, the UAE currently observes a Sunday through Thursday workweek, with Friday and Saturday observed as the weekend.
Government offices will from 2022 operate on a half-day schedule and close at noon on Fridays to accommodate afternoon prayers. The government will mandate that Friday prayers begin at 1:15pm to give employees enough time to leave work.
According to the government statement, the new work schedule will solidify the UAE’s position as a global business hub. It also said UAE financial markets will now collaborate more with global economies that utilize the Saturday-Sunday weekend schedule, adding that the change will “improve performance and productivity.”

Supporters of the decision to change the workweek have indicated that the new schedule will help achieve the goals of the UAE’s development plan.

Prominent Emirati academic Abdulkhaleq Abdulla called the change “revolutionary,” writing that it will make the “UAE of the 21st century different from the UAE of the 20th century.” Abdulla also implied that the move will facilitate the Emirates’ 2071 Centennial Program.
British-Bahraini influencer Amjad Taha lauded the change to the workweek as a “smart move that suits the internationalism of the UAE,” adding that “it will ease the work of companies.”

But some detractors have denounced the decision to make Friday a working day. They charge that it disrespects Friday’s designation as a holy day for Muslims.

Saudi writer Mohammad Al-Yahya disapproved of the UAE’s move as “it means the following: Saturday is a holiday for the Jewish people, Sunday for the Christians, but Muslims do not care about [these days as holidays]. The UAE…respects and tolerates all religions except Islam!”

The context/analysis: The UAE has enacted many measures to make it more attractive as a destination for foreign investment. The move to change the workweek came only days after the UAE celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation.

The vast majority of the UAE’s population consists of expatriate workers and their families. Laws have been relaxed to allow expats to attain citizenship if they demonstrate valuable skills—especially in the medical or scientific fields. Moreover, the government has also curtailed certain laws for non-Muslims, bringing local regulations more in accordance with western norms.

Most Gulf Arab states mandate foreign companies to have a local citizen as a majority shareholder, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia have free zones that relax company ownership rules. But amendments to UAE business law have rescinded a previous requirement that forced foreign companies to partner with an Emirati national as a majority stakeholder.

As Amwaj.media has previously reported, the success of the UAE’s Vision 2071 program hinges on it maintaining its position as a regional business hub.

The new workweek schedule ensures that Emirati financial markets will have increased access to global markets, which largely observe the typical Saturday-Sunday weekend.
At the same time, government officials hope that the shorter workweek will “boost productivity and achieve a greater work-life balance.” Amid the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the move to shorten the workweek also gives greater flexibility to both citizens and expat workers.

Some analysts believe that the UAE’s recent labor and social reforms are a direct response to growing economic competition with Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom earlier this year gave multinational corporations an ultimatum to move regional headquarters to Riyadh—in some cases from Dubai—or risk losing lucrative government contracts.
Previous disagreements between the Emiratis and the Saudis over oil production have threatened to strain their traditionally strong bilateral relationship. However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud’s (MbS) latest visit to the UAE appears to have been partly geared to project an image of unity.

The future: In pursuit of the further diversification of its economy, the UAE will likely continue to provide incentives to multinational corporations and expats to establish new businesses.

While an Arab Muslim country, the UAE will likely make additional social reforms that limit the influence of Islamic law in daily life, especially for non-Muslims.
Private sector companies have the option to set their own workweek schedules, but it seems likely that such businesses will also adhere to the new public sector workweek in the UAE.

Economic competition between the UAE and Saudi Arabia will likely continue—especially as both countries work toward realizing their respective vision agendas.