Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE is slashing its official working week to four-and-a-half days and moving its weekend to Saturday and Sunday in a major shift aimed at improving competitiveness, officials said on Tuesday.

The new official working hours will be 7.30am to 3.30pm from Monday to Thursday (eight hours) and until 12pm on Fridays (4 hours, 30 minutes).

The "national working week" is mandatory for government bodies from January 1.

Here are the changes in the local government working hours:

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Government is to implement a four and a half day working week, with weekend moved to Saturday-Sunday, and a half-day on Friday in the emirate, in line with the UAE’s vision to enhance its global competitiveness across economic and business sectors, and to keep pace with global developments.

According to the decision, the new weekly work schedule will be implemented in Abu Dhabi across all government entities. The work-week will become Monday to Thursday with a half-work day on Friday.

As of 1 January 2022, the weekend will fall on Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday, 2 January to be an official holiday.

Official working hours in government entities will be from 7.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Thursday, with regular flexible timings remaining applicable, and from 7.30am to 12.00pm on Friday.

Dubai

In compliance with the UAE government decision, the Dubai government announced a four and a half-day working week for public sector employees.

The weekend has been changed to Saturday and Sunday, with Friday being a half-day. The changes will be effective as of 1st January 2022 across all government entities, and Sunday, 2nd January 2022, will be an official holiday.

The new working week will better align the UAE with global markets, reflecting the country’s strategic status on the global economic map. It will also boost work-life balance and enhance social wellbeing, while increasing performance to advance the UAE’s economic competitiveness.

The changes to the working week system also include new official working hours. Public sector employees will be expected to work from 7:30am to 3:30pm from Monday to Thursday (8 hours) and 12:00pm on Fridays (four-and-one-half hours).

Ajman

The government of Ajman has announced a change in the working week for all federal entities, in line with the new rules issued by the UAE federal government earlier on Thursday.

Starting January 1, public sector entities in Ajman will be following a four-and-a-half day working week. Saturday and Sunday will be the new off days, while Friday will be a half-day.

The new official working hours will be 7.30am to 3.30pm from Monday to Thursday (eight hours) and until 12pm on Fridays (4 hours, 30 minutes).

Fujairah

The Government of Fujairah has adopted the UAE’s new working week system for public sector employees, in line with the UAE’s vision to enhance the country's global competitiveness indicators and remain on top of international trends and developments.

The system will be implemented in all government entities across the Emirate of Fujairah, whereby the working week will be from Monday to Thursday, with Friday being a half day.

The decision moves the weekend to Saturday and Sunday, with Friday being a half day. The changes will be effective as of 1st January 2022, and Sunday, 2nd January 2022, will be an official holiday.

Public sector employees will be expected to work from 7:30am to 3:30pm from Monday to Thursday, and from 7:30am to 12:00pm on Friday.

Ras Al Khaimah

In line with the UAE’s vision and efforts to remain on top of international trends and developments, and in order to continue making progress on global competitiveness indicators across all sectors, the Government of Ras Al Khaimah has adopted the UAE’s new workweek in local government sector.

The system will be implemented in all government entities across the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, whereby the workweek will be from Monday to Thursday moving forward, with Friday being a half day.

The decision moves the weekend to Saturday and Sunday, with Friday being a half day, as of 1st January 2022. The roll-out of the system will, nevertheless, take into consideration government entities whose activities require alternative arrangements. Flexible and remote work system will remain in place in line with relevant directives and regulations.