UAE announces 4.5-day workweek, Saturday-Sunday weekend

The United Arab Emirates has said all government entities will adopt a new working-week schedule that will consist of four and half days, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday forming the new weekend.

The move, announced by state news agency WAM on Tuesday, will come into effect on January 1, 2022, making the working week more in line with Western schedules.

The UAE currently has a Friday-Saturday weekend, which corresponds to the same model other countries in the region follow.