Friday-Saturday weekend in UAE from September

Dubai: In September the UAE's official weekend will be Friday and Saturday. All public sector establishments as well as government and private schools will adopt the new weekend in place of the present Thursday-Friday.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet in line with the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, WAM reported yesterday. The decision will apply to all federal and government organisations as well schools from September 1, it said.

The move was proposed to the Cabinet earlier by Dr. Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour.

A study conducted by the National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) showed it would boost the stock markets, banks, insurance companies and the UAE's foreign trade.

It would also help to increase private sector business activity and reduce losses from the long interruption caused by the difference between the UAE's weekend and the rest of the world.

The business sector welcomed the news, saying it will boost the financial sector. Some private school academicians, however, were non-committal.

Holiday: Arab countries