In line with the UAE’s announcement to change the working week system to enhance its competitive position in the global economic and business sectors, Petrasco Dubai will be adopting Saturday and Sunday as the weekend from January 1, 2022 instead of the traditional Friday and Saturday weekend.
The UAE Government announced during December that the weekend would change for all federal government employees effective January 1. The change across the UAE will see all government employees moving to reduced working hours with the working week being Monday to Friday with all employees finishing at noon on a Friday in time for the traditional Friday prayers. The majority of the private sector have chosen to follow suit with most switching to the new working week and allowing those wishing to attend Friday prayers extended time off and flexibility during the Friday. A government spokesperson said that the changes to the week schedule will help the UAE "achieve business continuity and alignment with global economies and banking,”
Private companies have been given the flexibility to choose their working week with most choosing to align with the government, banking, and schools.
Petrasco managing director, Kevin Buchan said: “Being a hub for the region has meant we have to consider the requirements of our clients across the region carefully.” Petrasco will move to the new working week but will monitor the situation closely and Kevin added: “As always, our experienced teams will be available 24/7 to our clients where required and we are very aware of the different working week shift means we are working different days from key markets such as Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait etc”
This is not the first change to the UAE working week, when Petrasco first opened their Middle East hub, the weekend was Thursday and Friday before being changed to Friday to Saturday.