Companies with operations in the United Arab Emirates feel that shifting to a new weekend would improve work-life balance and help them recruit more foreign talent. It will also cause organizations to reevaluate some of their most fundamental operational rules as well as their attitude to work.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will changeover to a four-and-a-half-day work week with a Saturday-Sunday weekend beginning on January 1, 2022; the government said this week. The move is intended to better align the country's economy with global markets.
According to an official statement, work on Friday will be completed by 12 noon in order to accommodate Muslim prayers, which will be held simultaneously throughout the UAE on Friday. The Gulf countries now operate on a Sunday-to-Thursday weekday schedule. This will apply to government employees and schools, while private businesses will be able to pick their own work weeks under the new regulations.
Each firm has the ability to pick the weekend for their workers based on the industry in which they operate as well as what fits and serves their particular business the best.
Impact on UAE public and private sector
In the wake of the UAE Federal Government's announcement of a welcome shift in working days for the public sector, many are anticipating a similar adjustment for the business sector. In turn, it will result in improved alignment with worldwide markets, hence promoting more seamless cross-border cooperation and project execution.
The shift will also promote a better work-life balance for UAE-based workers who work for and with multinational corporations, as well as the growth of the UAE's expatriate talent pool, whose desirability will improve as a result of the move.
However, the private sector must maintain its focus on the adoption and facilitation of flexible working policies during the transition to the new work week, particularly for UAE-based employees who collaborate on projects throughout the Middle East region and for parents who are adjusting to the new schooling schedule.
Flexibility in working arrangements has been shown throughout the COVID-19 epidemic, and companies must continue to provide this benefit in order to recruit and retain top people going forward. Employers that take a consultative and compassionate approach to assist their employees in changing to a new way of working will be able to preserve productivity, morale, and talent levels in their organizations.
Conclusion
Employers should consider switching to a new weekend schedule since it will not only increase productivity but will also boost employee happiness, work-life balance, and mental health. As a result of the new weekend structure, communication and transactions with nations that observe a Saturday-Sunday weekend will improve, allowing the workplace to compete more effectively against the rest of the globe. The new working week will also bring financial industry closer to parity with the rest of the world's financial sector, particularly in terms of real-time trading.
Furthermore, when compared to the other countries in the Middle East, the UAE is likely to be the favored location for many international corporations looking to establish their operations in the Middle East.