UAE | General

A brand new week

If you think the weekend change from Thursday-Friday to Friday-Saturday will affect only the days off of government workers, then think again.

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 00:00 September 2, 2006
  • Gulf News

  • If you think the weekend change from Thursday-Friday to Friday-Saturday will affect only the days off of government workers, then think again.
  • Image Credit: Gulf News
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If you think the weekend change from Thursday-Friday to Friday-Saturday will affect only the days off of government workers, then think again. Businesses, shops, cinemas and social scene will see their normal patterns shaken up by the mammoth switchover which begins this weekend.

From football matches to the latest films, from religious education to visas, there are few aspects of weekly life in the UAE that will remain untouched. Both consumers and employees will be affected - so read on to find out how the new regime will work.

We now have Friday and Saturday off whereas we used to have Friday and every other Thursday off, although we work occasionally on Saturday to deal with calls from private sector companies working that day.

The two-day weekend gives you much more time to deal with things like your laundry and housework, and also more time for your social life. It also makes you a better person at work because you are more relaxed and energised. The extra day off makes you a more balanced person."
Xernes Martinez, 27, Philippines
Assistant manager, catering and conferences at the Fairmont Hotel

Things aren't really going to change too much for me. I already have Saturday off, so it is not going to be such a difference. But it will mean that I will be able to be with my family more, and especially my nieces and nephews who will now have the same weekend as me. It will not have an effect on my sporting activities though as Friday is the only day that I have off for that."
Sami Al Saqqaf, 28, UAE
Construction company worker

It's not going to affect me much - in the private sector we don't have to follow exactly what the government is doing. Currently Thursday is a lazy day for people. I think Thursday will stay a lazy day and people will have Saturday off as well, so more of the working week will be lost to the weekend."
Hossam Mahmoud, 42, Egypt
Runs a metal-working company

It's going to be strange and I don't know if I am going to like the change. I think that it will be difficult because our routine will be disrupted. We will have to rearrange our week now and activities like sports and studying."
Shaheen Al Shaheen, 12, UAE
Student

I won't be affected at all. I will still have one day off a week like most people in retail. I think the change in weekend is good for Dubai. I used to work in Dubai Media City and it was difficult working on Saturday and Sunday because the people we needed to speak to in the UK weren't there. Now it will be easier for many people because there will only be one day of the working week when people elsewhere won't be working."
Alisha Becker, 23, South Africa
Store manager

I am not happy with the change because I've gone to school all my life on a Saturday and now we'll be off, so it will be weird. It's also going to be odd having a family day the day after the school week finishes. I think we will play more sports on Saturday, so I am going to have to change some of my sports lessons."
Nicolas Hanlon, 16, Australia
Student

Everyday we have around 200 people coming to Safa Park, but on Thursdays we have around 500 and on Fridays 1,500. I expect that there will be far more people coming on Saturdays from now on ... Now I think Saturday will become nearly as busy."
Abdul Aziz Khadim , UAE
Foreman at Safa Park

I have Thursday afternoon and Friday off and for the moment that's how it will continue, although I think inevitably it
will eventually change. The change should be good for business. At the moment, Thursday is the busiest day of the week, followed by Friday. I think Thursday will continue to be a good day, Friday will remain strong and Saturday will become stronger. Overall people will have more leisure time."
Tim Jones, 45, UK
General Manager, Lamcy Plaza

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