When the UAE government announced a new working week and a new weekend on Saturdays and Sundays for all federal government employees, one of the first questions everyone had was: what will happen to Friday brunch? Similarly, what will happen to ladies’ nights in the UAE and other weekday promotions?
Friday brunch is a ritual for so many people across the emirates, from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. So, how will the new UAE policy impact everyone’s most delicious day, especially with there being a four-and-a-half-day working week and school week?
Time Out spoke with experts about how they see the United Arab Emirates working week switch impact brunch and food deals when it takes effect on Saturday January 1, 2022.
You might like: What the UAE work week changes could impact: a guide
Prep your stomach now, because they foresee the new UAE weekend to have many yummy options – and they are already planning accordingly.
The UAE’s new work week schedule could lead to a huge rise in afternoon and evening brunches on Fridays and a host of new Saturday brunches, and that is just the start of things.
Brian Voelzing, director of operations at Restaurant Secrets Inc, exclusively told Time Out: “I believe most restaurants will move their brunch to Saturday.”
He continued: “In light of the new half working day on Fridays however, I can also see many restaurants offering a late Friday brunch as well to engage with customers looking to relax post-work.”
Wondering about how the UAE’s weekend switch will impact ladies’ nights?
“Although most ladies’ nights generally tend to fall on a Tuesday evening, many restaurants already have offers in place for ladies on other nights, too,” said Voelzing. “I am sure some will change to a Wednesday, but I don’t feel it will have the same impact as moving brunch, as the half day on a Friday now allows restaurants to introduce an additional weekly event.”
Hotels and restaurants and more F&B businesses will consider the UAE weekend switch in their promotions and activities, whatever form it takes. And they will be striving for mass appeal.
Antonio Zubiaga, director of beverage and food at W Abu Dhabi said: “The weekend change that is being rolled in across the UAE will for sure have major implications on our operations. If we switch to a Monday to Friday working week, we will have to change all of our weekly promotions, including B.I.G. – Brunch in Garage, which is a Friday institution in Abu Dhabi.”
He elaborated: “This will all go smoothly provided that the ruling will apply to the both the public and private sector as of January 1, 2022. If it applies to the government sector only, we will be impacted, so we are hoping for a smooth shift in the New Year.”
You might like: UAE schools to change timetables in line with the new working week
Andreas Koenig, the food and beverage manager of Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche, is already making plans for the UAE’s new work week, including moving its brunch.
“With the exciting announcement of the newly announced work week, we have already reviewed our plans for our restaurants and bars at Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche,” said Koenig. “We are finalising our calendar with a fresh and elegant look to exceed our guests’ wishes….”
Koenig is planning to shift the Grills at Chill’s restaurant brunch to Saturdays and foresees the weekend change potentially sparking new occasions such as Sunday roasts.
“For the panoramic Jazz & Fizz Bar, we will anticipate a high demand for Friday and Saturday nights, so our thrilling promotions will be scheduled accordingly,” he continued. Similarly, the Sofitel “will have some new offerings, to be added in alignment with the new philosophy of work-life balance”.
W Hotel’s music curator Darko De Jan opined: “The weekend change is major. We have to reschedule all our programming and events and adjust to the new working week. It will be interesting to see whether consumer habits change instantly or if it will be a slow process. This will largely depend on whether all companies apply the rule at the same time or if it is rolled out gradually. Time will tell, but we’re already prepping.”
We cannot wait to see what the foodie future holds for the UAE’s brunch scene and more. Watch this space for all the freshest deals and brunch updates.
For everything to know about the UAE’s weekend update, see Time Out’s guide here.
