Dubai: Authorities in Sharjah announced Thursday a shift to a three-day weekend for the official sector. The development comes a day after the United Arab Emirates said it would reduce the official working week to four-and-a-half days.
According to an AFP report, the working week for Sharjah's government agencies will now be from Monday to Thursday. The weekend will be between Friday and Sunday.
The Sharjah Executive Council said its decision was taken "in line with the UAE vision to enhance its competitive position", AFP reported.
The new rules will come into effect from January 1. It would "support the business environment and economic market, and keep pace with global development", the council said.
As per the new timetable, the public-sector weekend will start at noon on Fridays and end on Sunday. Friday prayers at mosques will be held after 1:15 pm all year round.
While becoming the only Gulf country not to have a Friday-Saturday weekend, the UAE now comes into line with the non-Arab world.
The Western-style weekend, rumoured for years, was announced less than a week after the former British protectorate celebrated the 50th anniversary of its formation, AFP reported.
The UAE observed a Thursday-Friday weekend until 2006, when it moved to Fridays and Saturdays with the private sector following suit.
The move is intended to "better align the UAE with global markets", said state news agency WAM, calling the new working week the shortest in the world.
"The extended weekend comes as part of the UAE government's efforts to boost work-life balance and enhance social wellbeing, while increasing performance to advance the UAE's economic competitiveness," the WAM report said.