New work schedules will boost productivity, strengthen family ties, say Emiratis

Dubai: Emiratis across different sectors have welcomed the significant change of the work week that brings the nation, which is home to major international companies, in line with global schedules.

The UAE said on Tuesday that its official workweek will move Monday to Friday from January 1, 2022, making the country one of the few in the region to do so.

According to the new announcement, employees in the government will work from Monday to Thursday, with a half day on Fridays.

The shift comes to bolster the UAE’s business and tourist appeal, as well as improve the lifestyle of its people, including Emiratis and residents.

Beside boosting productivity, Emiratis believe the move will help deepen bonds between family members as they will have more time to spend with each other.

“This decision will help UAE better align with global markets, reflecting the country’s strategic status on the global economic map. Besides developing the relationship with other countries implementing the same working system, an important part of the decision is enhancing and empowering the relationship between family members as employees will spend more time with their families.

“The significant change will bring the UAE’s financial institutions in line with western schedules. It is a great decision as it will make the UAE one of the few countries in the region to operate with western schedules instead of a Sunday-through-Thursday week. It will bring the UAE’s financial sector into closer alignment with global real-time trading and communications-based transactions. Our leaders taught us to see beyond our nose and focus on the future.

"I’m with the new order as it will make UAE a global hub and achieve the UAE Centennial 2071 to lead the world in the economy, education and government sectors as well as make it the happiest nation in the world.”

“The UAE Government’s policies and orders are always for the benefit of the nation and residents. In the last 50 years, the UAE had seen a gigantic jump to become a global destination for investors and major companies. This order in line with the UAE’s vision to be closer to the world and enable communications-based transactions.

“The decision is for sure in the interest of the people and the state, as the leadership knows best. It will also boost the economy in the UAE.

“We are with our Rulers and their decisions are always in the interest of the state. The decisions are also made after a careful study.

I have witnessed the old system, whenwe only had Fridays as a holiday, then it changed to Thursday and Friday, following which we had Friday and Saturday.”

“I am a veteran who has witnessed the change in holidays over time. With time, we will smoothly adapt to the new system.

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