'We get to spend more time as a family'

Dubai: Residents in Dubai say that the new weekend has had a positive effect on their lifestyles.

Korie Saito, 36, a Japanese housewife, said: "I am a housewife but I felt the change when my husband changed his weekend last year to Friday and Saturday. It was good for me and good for him. We got to spend more time together as a family. He works for an international company and it meant he only received business calls on Friday and not Thursdays and Fridays like before. Saturdays are a lot quieter now. I like the new weekend. In Japan weekends are on Saturday and Sunday."

Keiron Young, 31, a British teacher said, "I think changing weekends brings us together with other parts of the world. Coming from outside the UAE, it felt more normal doing things on Saturdays you associate with doing on Saturdays back home. It felt like more of a weekend because I was used to it. Also, Friday is a big social night out. Having Saturday as a day off instead of going in to work means you don't have to worry about getting up to go to work."

Good move

Ala'a Sawan, a Lebanese, manager said: "For me, the weekend change wasn't that positive as I used to have flexible days off. I would take Friday and then any other day - usually Saturday, when everyone else was at work, so that I could go to the beach and it would not be too packed. After the weekend change everything became too crowded on Saturdays. But, for many people it was a good move, as many used to work half a day on Thursday and then get Friday off. Now, they actually get two full days off."