Schools in the UAE are changing their schedules in line with recent changes to the working week.
Students from all public and private schools in the UAE will adopt a new timetable, with students attending lessons from Monday to Thursday, with a half day on Friday. Timings will be confirmed by authorities at a later time. UAE pupils will have Saturday and Sunday fully off as their new weekend.
The change is in keeping with the UAE’s government changes to the work week and new weekends, which were announced on Tuesday December 7. As part of the important update, public sector workers will adopt a four-and-a-half day working week starting from January 1, 2022. Government employees will work from Monday to Thursday with a half day on Friday, making Saturday and Sunday the new weekend. Changes to the private sector have not been announced.
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#UAE announces today that it will transition to a four and a half day working week, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday forming the new weekend.
All Federal government departments will move to the new weekend from January 1, 2022.#WamNews pic.twitter.com/p4IqjbIiXF
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) December 7, 2021
The new schedule gives federal government employees an eight-hour workday. Starting January 1, 2022, work will start for government employees at 7.30am and will end at 3.30pm. They will also work for four-and-a-half hours on Friday, from 7.30am to noon.
Students with parents working in government sectors will therefore share the same weekend days.
Friday sermons and prayers will be held after 1.15pm all year long in the UAE.
There will also be flexible working hours and work-from-home options on Fridays for government workers.
There are huge merits to shorter workweeks, with employees feeling happier, healthier and more productive during their working hours.
Wondering how to switch off during your days off in the UAE? Click here for our guide on how to take holidays in the UAE, to de-stress and recharge.
Watch this space for more updates about the new weekend.
From January 1, 2022.
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