What do you think about the new weekend?

What has the impact been on UAE student lifestyles? Rania Al Hussaini reports.

You are driving on a Wednesday night to your favourite coffee shop where you don't always manage to get a table. Once there, you find there is room not only for you, but also all your friends who are planning to join you soon. You wonder what is wrong with the coffee shop?

Or may be you are heading to university on a Thursday morning and you find the roads are jam-packed like any other weekday. You think, why are people awake so early on a Thursday?

And then it hits you. Thursday is no longer a day off!

It's not really a change

For some students the change in weekend hasn't made much of a difference; Friday and Saturday was their weekend anyway. The difference is that now they share it with many more people.

Those whose weekends have changed have taken it positively.

Diana Saidova, a student at Skyline College said, "It is a really nice change. Although it might be a bit confusing, I only have to make a habit of it."

Deepa Sajnani from MAHE Manipal Dubai said: "I think it is better now, since you can still go out on Thursday night, have your family day on Friday and enjoy a good sleep on Saturday morning."

Abu Taher from the Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) Dubai campus said: "It is actually fine, the same routine but now we have a Saturday instead of a Friday. So now I study for my classes on a Saturday instead of a Friday."

There's more time for family and friends, says Shamona Khan from Middlesex University.

She said: "I think it has become better now and follows international standards; earlier the government sector were on hold for four days. And I get to see my family more, chat with my friends overseas."

Adjustment issues

For some people the new weekend interferes with their weekly plans and does affect their life pattern.

"I am used to having Thursday and Friday as my weekend, but now it is different," said Israa Ashraf from MAHE Manipal Dubai. "Saturday was a working day for many of my friends; we used to plan our outings accordingly. But now we have had to change our plans and a part of our lifestyle."

Sanaa Fatima from MGU said: "Actually we are really used to the Thursday-Friday weekend, but we have to adjust to this new weekend and we have to get used to it."

For most, it's just a question of adjusting to change. And before you complain, think about all those who still work six days a week.

WHY LIKE IT?

- You have more time for your family.

- You can meet people you couldn't before because of the different weekends.

- Saturday is now a common weekend day with most international countries.

WHY DON'T...

- Wednesday is no longer a day to hang out.

- Traffic wise, it was better earlier; many people had either a Thursday or a Saturday off and traffic was relatively free on Thursdays and Saturdays. Not anymore.

- Fear of change

DOES THE NEW WEEKEND GIVE YOU MORE FAMILY TIME?

"Friday is the family day for most families in the UAE. I only see my family on Friday, on Saturday I have to go back to the dorms and my Dad has to go back to work."
- Nidal Huchaimi, visual communications, American University in Dubai

"My parents don't live here; I am new here."
- Sahar Daher, business, American University in Dubai (AUD)

"It does not make a difference, I only see my parents on Fridays since they have to work on Saturday."
- Patricia Massis, visual communications, AUD

"I believe it was better before, although I get to see my family more because of the new weekend."
- Mohammad Khalil, accounting and finance, AUD

"No, I don't get to see them more because my family is not here."
- Anna Nichko, business, AUD

"This new weekend allows me to see my parents more, since they are also off. But I do not like that because it becomes boring."
- Heba Salim, business, AUD