United Arab Emirates Issues New Weekend Rules, Friday Prayer Schedule Moved Permanently To 13:15

Illustration of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Unsplash/Nick Fewings)

JAKARTA - The authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued new rules regarding the weekend, affecting working days and hours, and permanently moving Friday prayer times.

Federal Government departments in the UAE will change their work week starting January 1, 2022, with most states expected to follow suit. Public sector workers at the ministerial level will adopt a four-and-a-half-day work week, with employees working from Monday to Thursday.

Meanwhile, a half day of work applies on Friday, with Saturday and Sunday being the new weekends for government employees.

The governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi said their employees would apply the same hours. National understands that all schools will move to the same work week on the first day of the term, with expected hours of work to be announced soon.

The decision "will better align Emirates with global markets, reflecting the country's strategic status on the global economic map", the UAE Government Media Office said, citing The National News Dec. 7.

"The new long weekend will "increase productivity and improve work-life balance," the ministry said.

No specific instructions or guidelines have been created with regard to the private sector, but companies do not need government permission to regulate their workweek. The recently designated public holiday for 2022 will not change, officials said.

"This move is expected to not only increase trade opportunities but also add to the flexible, safe, and enjoyable lifestyle that Emirates offers to its citizens and residents," he added.

The new system will mean federal and many local government workers will work from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Friday. There are possible flexible work and work from home options on Friday, officials said.

#UAE announces today that it will transition to a four and a half day working week, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday forming the new weekend.

All Federal government departments will move to the new weekend from January 1, 2022. pic.twitter.com/tQoa22pai9

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) December 7, 2021

The state's workweek rules last changed in 2006, when they were moved from Thursday-Friday to the current Friday-Saturday pattern. This move brings Emirates into line with the global market at a time when the economy is booming.

The private sector, and public and private schools, changed their pattern of working on the same day in September 2006. Between 1971 and 1999, the country had a six-day official work week, with only Friday as a government-mandated holiday. Thursday was added to make a two-day weekend in 1999.

In addition, this change also affects the time of Friday Prayer in the UAE which also changes. Friday prayers across the UAE will start at 13:15 to accommodate the new work week, the Government said on Tuesday.

Usually, Friday Prayers begin when the time for the Dzuhur Prayer is entered, following the applicable prayer times. Usually between noon and around 12:30 local time.

The change is meant to allow time for government employees to attend Friday prayers at mosques, with sermons starting at 13:15 local time.

In a document containing questions and answers issued by the Government, the authorities said there was no conflict between Friday prayer times and a half working day.

"This decision is based on fixing the prayer times at 13:15 throughout the year," the government explained, indicating the times would not change based on the season as usual.