Torn between faith and business the new weekend of the Emirates

As of January 1, the weekend break moved from Friday and Saturday to the more "Western" Saturday and Sunday (in addition to Friday afternoon) has come into effect. Bishop Hinder: the calendar of Masses has also been modified, now more migrant workers will be able to celebrate Sundays. 

Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews) - The beginning of the new year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has marked a revolution in the working week and religious celebrations. A change dictated by needs that concern both the economic sphere and religious life, in the country where  in February 2019 Pope Francis and the Imam of al-Azhar signed the document on human fraternity.

As of January 1, 2022, the "short" working week of four and a half days and the moving ofthe weekend from Friday and Saturday to the more "Western" Saturday and Sunday (in addition to Friday afternoon) came into force. The choice was dictated first and foremost by improved competitiveness at international level, which therefore seems to prevail over the dictates of Islamic religious tradition, according to which Friday is the day dedicated to prayer - and rest - for Muslims. 

The directives are in force both in the public sector and in schools, while there remains a margin of autonomy for private companies, which already seem to be struggling to harmonize change with production needs and a long-established approach. However, from what emerges in a survey carried out by the consulting firm Mercer on 190 companies present in the Emirates, the majority - around 57% - seems to favor the new model. Nevertheless, less than one in four (around 23%) intend to apply the short working week. On the private sector workers' side, those who intend to remain with the "traditional" model will then have to adapt their professional sphere to their family and children's school calendar, who will stay at home on Sundays while their parents work.

Now the working week runs from Monday to Thursday, from 7.30 in the morning to 3.30 in the afternoon. On Fridays, pre-holidays, the working week is reduced from 7.30 am to 12 pm, in order to allow the participation to the Islamic prayer, which slips to 13.15 pm.

Msgr. Paul Hinder, vicar of southern Arabia (Emirates, Oman and Yemen) and apostolic administrator sede vacante of northern Arabia (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain) spoke to us about the change: "Last weekend is the first in which the change, which passed without causing much noise, has found practical application. On the one hand, it is too early to evaluate the reforms and their impact, but I think that for us [Christians] it is positive . In the meantime, people have to get used to the new rhythm dictated by the calendar. For Muslims, the midday prayer is postponed to 1:15 p.m., to facilitate the participation of those who have to work in the first half of the day. Schools had been closed on Saturdays for years and now Sunday will be without classes as well.

These changes will inevitably end up altering the pace of life for the general population and also for migrant workers, although some jobs will not be affected. This shift has become necessary first of all to be more in tune with the global business system and, on the other, it is an attempt to find a solution that can satisfy the three great monotheistic religions: with Islamic prayer on Fridays, for Muslims, even if delayed compared to the past; Jews will have no difficulty in respecting Saturday; Christians will be able to find Sunday. As a result, the Vicariate of Arabia has already modified the calendar of Sunday masses, because we intend to teach our faithful the value and importance of respecting Sunday as the day of resurrection, with the celebration of the Eucharist".  

The Emirates and the world of work

Between 1971 and 1999 a six day working week was in force, with only Friday (Islamic) dedicated to rest by government provision. In 1999, Thursday was added, giving rise to a two day weekend. Another change, and the last before the 2022 revolution, came in 2006 when the Thursday-Friday pattern was changed to a Friday-Saturday pattern. The private sector, and the world of public and private schools, changed the calendar to comply with government regulations in September of that year. 

The current change is motivated by an attempt to align with global markets, in a phase of great expansion of the local economy; a growth also driven by ExpoDubai2020, which has proven to be quite successful despite the challenge of the continuing health emergency triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The administrations of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are leading the change, stressing that employees will adopt the same hours and schools will soon apply the same scheme. The decision, the Emirates government's media department explains in a note, will "align [the country] even better with world markets, reflecting its strategic status on the global economic map." It will also ensure "increased productivity and improved work-life balance."

Economic impact and reactions

Analysts and experts believe that the change introduced in the Emirates will have effects far beyond mere productivity in a leading nation not only in the region, but worldwide. A country that today ranks 13th in the world for quality of work, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi in third and fifth place respectively in the special ranking that takes into consideration cities and metropolises.

Consequently, moving to a weekend aligned with international markets and economies means that activities and transactions can be managed in a more fluid and rational manner. It will also become even more attractive to the global workforce, considering the fact that the Emirates already hosts immigrants from more than 80 nations and counts a higher expatriate population (mostly integrated) than its own citizens, while also boasting leading entrepreneurs and some of the best talent in business and innovation. 

More broadly, it also implies global alignment in sectors such as travel and tourism, which will also benefit more. The same goes for multinationals looking to set up shop in the region, at a time of great expansion and fierce competition from ally (and rival) Saudi Arabia, which has been pushing reform - especially in the economic and entertainment fields - under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (Mbs). When it comes to banking, which is the center of all financial negotiations and transactions, UAE institutions will now become stronger competitors and partners in the global landscape. Ultimately, this transition will help the country gain competitive advantages and reflect the "flexible work-life balance" it is able to offer its citizens and, more broadly, migrant workers as well. 

At the level of the population, the revolution decided by the authorities has gathered discordant opinions, even if it is too early to express a definitive judgment, especially among those who are more tied to Islamic religious traditions. An Internet user expressed his disappointment on twitter, talking about "wrong choice [...] my body and mind are fully acclimatized to having Fridays off" and for the future adapting "will be a hard struggle".

Even a 22-year-old British-born Rachel King, who has lived in Dubai for some time, says she prefers the "Friday off" that is "all we knew and all we loved." However, the mosques at first glance seemed packed as usual, with the difference that some worshippers after rolling up their mats at the end of the prayer returned to their offices. Fati, a mother of a family working in an international distribution company, is satisfied because "now I have the same free days as my children" but "it is not so for my husband" who works for a multinational company and has not changed his schedule: "I hope they do it quickly - she concludes - otherwise our family life will be ruined". Finally, the emirate of Sharjah, near Dubai, which in an extreme summary says it has found a simple solution: to impose Friday, Saturday and Sunday as holidays, with a three-day weekend.

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