Following the footsteps of United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia is contemplating the adoption of a three-day weekend.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development confirmed that it is currently evaluating the existing work system to explore the feasibility of extending the weekly break to three days, said the Saudi media reports.
The ministry stated that the rule is made to enhance the labor system and evaluate regulations in order to promote job growth and enhance the market’s appeal to both domestic and foreign investors.
Starting from January 1, 2022, the UAE became the first country in the GCC to implement a new four-and-a-half-day working week, replacing the previous two-day weekend system. The new system features workdays from Monday to Thursday, starting at 7:30 am and ending at 3:30 pm, while Friday working hours are from 7:30 am to 12 noon. In Sharjah, a shorter workweek consisting of four days was introduced, whereby Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were designated as the new weekend.
Separately, Oman is reportedly contemplating a three-day weekend. The Ministry of Labour has confirmed that the decision lies with the Council of Ministers, and there are no objections to examining this proposal and presenting it for discussion.
