The UAE’s Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has issued a circular to all ministries and authorities regarding implementing the new working week system, which starts on January 1.

UAE announced earlier this month that it was breaking away from Friday/Saturday weekends for public sector employees. The move aligned the UAE with most of the rest of the world and enhanced its positions as a global business hub and boost the work-life balance. Additionally, the UAE plans to establish a four and a half-day week for federal government employees, making it the only country in the world to do so. As a reminder, when UAE changed its weekend to Friday and Saturday in 2006 (from Thursday and Friday), Saudi Arabia and other GCC nations quickly followed.

Although private firms are not legally required to make the change, they are urged to adjust employee schedules based on the new weekend. Many of the largest private companies are already switching to the new weekend, including flexible working hours on Fridays.

Changes at HERC

From the 1st of January 2022, HERC will shift weekends to align with the public sector, so the new weekends will be Saturday and Sunday.

HERC office hours will be 9 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.

HERC’s Strength Department will have five and a half working days, with shorter working hours on Saturday and a day off on Sunday.

HERC’s Education Department will keep flexible working hours where some of the weekends are working days to meet the clients’ expectations and demands.

HERC’s Research Department will operate on a five-day week, with Saturday and Sunday off.

HERC will be revising working hours and days from January in line with the government announcement for the private sector.