In a landmark decision on 7th December 2021, the UAE Government announced that it will be adopting a four-and-a-half-day work week from 2022. So, as opposed to the existing Sunday-Thursday work week, the UAE is set to adopt the Monday-Friday pattern, much like the rest of the developed world. With this move, the UAE has changed a pattern that was in effect since 1971. Initially, people only had a day off on Friday, before Saturday was regarded as part of the weekend in 1999. From my recollection, this move brought a sense of balance and greater compatibility with global markets.
Like any sweeping change, this too will need some getting used to. Yet, there is no denying that this decision by the UAE Government is slated to enhance the ease of doing business in the nation. Besides, the reform carries strong social, economic, and political implications, expected to strengthen the UAE’s position within the changing global order.
Social
The four-and-a-half-day workweek is an answer to the alternative pandemic: An increase in stress, depression, and other mental health-related issues. Prolonged lockdowns have precipitated these issues, requiring more recuperation time. So, there were calls for better work-life balance globally. The UAE has indeed responded enthusiastically by changing the existing structure. Also, the half-day holiday on Friday will enable the nation to stay true to its traditions. The two-and-a-half-day holiday will give people significantly more time to spend with family, go on small trips, and recoup before the workweek.
Economic
This reform has a strong economic imperative. Many professionals who are associated with MNCs believe that this move will alter how foreigners perceive the UAE’s business ecosystem. Such sentiments bode well as the nation takes measures to attract FDIs, incentivizing MNCs to set up local practices. Also, the Monday-Friday work week will enable faster response times between local businesses and their foreign clients — which is much-needed in an era defined by high speeds and operational efficiencies. This could also bring more business opportunities for local companies.
The reform will give impetus to the UAE’s aspirations of becoming an efficiency-driven, diversified economy. While lingering uncertainties continue to drive global investors towards alternative markets, the UAE has made a strong case for itself by making a fundamental change. The visa reforms and the 100% ownership rights for foreign investors, too, could add to the nation’s economic prospects.
That said, it’s important to look at this reform from a domestic perspective. The longer weekend spells opportunities for the service sectors, which continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic. With people heading out more, their spending could increase. So, the Friday-Sunday weekend could be a shot in the arm for the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Political
The nation’s stature is growing globally, as evident from its recent run of hosting events like the World Expo and winning the bid to host COP28. Politically, the UAE has been blazing a new trail through landmark diplomatic developments like the Abraham Accords. Globalized economies have taken stock of the UAE’s increasing prominence in the MENA geopolitics. At this juncture, by aligning its week pattern with that of the greater part of the world, it is sending a clear message, that its ambitions stretch beyond the Persian Gulf. Safe to say that this stance will not go unnoticed among the who’s who in the upper echelons of global politics.
For someone like me, who’s seen the UAE’s rise from the ground up, such progressive changes reinforce the confidence that I had placed on the nation’s prospects in the early days. I’m excited to follow the expected, and the unexpected, results that this strategic move will yield in the days to come.
