UAE Implements World's First 4.5-Day Workweek... "A Measure to Boost Productivity"

Breaking Away from Islamic Traditions... "Aligning with International Standards"
Aiming to Improve Productivity and Expand Attraction of Foreign Investment

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it will implement the world's first 4.5-day workweek. Traditionally, the UAE observed Friday and Saturday as weekends in accordance with Islamic customs, but to align its work schedule with major countries such as the United States and Europe, it will introduce a 4.5-day workweek with weekends from Friday afternoon to Sunday. The UAE government plans to increase productivity by extending rest hours while actively attracting foreign investment by synchronizing work schedules with key countries.

On the 7th (local time), the UAE government announced through the state-run WAM news agency that "starting January 1st next year, the weekly workdays will be changed to Monday through Friday noon." This changes the existing five-day workweek with weekends on Friday and Saturday to a 4.5-day workweek. As a result, the UAE becomes the first country in the world to officially operate a 4.5-day workweek.

The UAE government emphasized, "We are the first country to adopt a shorter workweek than the global standard five-day workweek," adding, "This change aims to increase productivity and improve work-life balance."

Traditionally, unlike Christianity, Islam holds its weekly worship on Friday rather than Sunday, so most Islamic countries designate their weekly holidays as Thursday and Friday or Friday and Saturday. The UAE, following the system of Saudi Arabia, the Sunni Islamic leader, has designated Friday and Saturday as rest days.

However, this weekend system caused several inconveniences, such as misalignment with the work schedules of major countries like the US and Europe and mismatched stock market holidays, which prevented proper reflection of international market conditions. In response to these criticisms, the UAE government decided to change the weekend to Saturday and Sunday to align with international standards, while working only from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Fridays.

According to the Associated Press, "As the COVID-19 situation begins to ease, the UAE appears to have taken this measure to align its business and tourism sectors with the Western-centric system," adding, "The intense competition with Saudi Arabia for attracting foreign investment likely also influenced this decision."