Dubai: The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday its official workweek will move to Monday to Friday, a major change that brings the Islamic nation that is home to major financial institutions in line with Western schedules.
The decision, which is to take effect next month, makes the Gulf Arab state, home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, one of the few places in the Middle East to operate on Western hours instead of on a Sunday through Thursday working week.
Government employees would work a half-day on Friday, the traditional Muslim holy day, and then take Saturday and Sunday off, the announcement said.
The government shift likely will see private industry and schools follow suit, as they did in 2006, when the week changed from Saturday to Wednesday an Islamic workweek followed in some Muslim countries, such as Iran and Afghanistan.
The Emirati government hailed the decision as making it the first nation in the world to introduce a national working week shorter than the global five-day week a reference to Friday becoming only a half-day workday.
The extended weekend comes as part of the UAE's government efforts to boost work-life balance and enhance social wellbeing, the statement added.
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New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Wednesday amid protests by Opposition members over the Adani controversy, recent violence in Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh and other issues.
As soon as the House met for the day, many Opposition members, including from Congress, were on their feet as they sought to raise various issues.
Some members from the Congress and Samajwadi Party were in the Well while other Opposition members stood in the aisle and shouted slogans.
Speaker Om Birla asked the Opposition members to allow the Question Hour and said they can take up their issues later.
Amid the din, one question was taken up.
However, the protests continued and the proceedings, which went on for about six minutes, were adjourned till noon.
The Opposition members wanted to discuss the Adani controversy and the recent violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal.
The Adani Group said on Wednesday that Gautam Adani, and his nephew Sagar have not been charged with any violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment that authorities filed in the New York court in an alleged bribery case.