Sharjah's public sector will adopt a four-day working week and a three-day weekend - giving employees an extra half day off than the rest of the country.
Sharjah's Executive Council announced the decision on Thursday. It will come into effect on January 1, 2022.
Employees will work from 7.30am to 3.30pm, which is 60 to 90 minutes longer than they do at present.
The decision follows the federal government's landmark shift to a Saturday-Sunday weekend, with a half day of work on Friday. The UAE's labour minister said the private sector will receive no official instruction to make the change, and can do so at their own discretion.
It makes Sharjah's government sector the first in the Gulf and Middle East to fully adopt a four-day working week. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah's local governments have all committed to a 4.5 day working week.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, announced the move after instructions from the Ruler of Sharjah.
Schools throughout the country are already braced for the new Monday to Friday working week, with schools expected to open with a new timetable on Monday, January 3. There is an extra national holiday on Sunday, January 2, 2022.
'More quality family time'
Sheikha Tariq, an Emirati public sector employee, told The National she and her colleagues were elated by the news.
She said it was clear that more work will have to be got through during the working week in return for the extra time off.
“This will not only give us more time to spend with our families in a way that will boost the emirate’s efforts of preserving the family unit, but will also encourage employees to perform better at work,” she said.
“It's a great decision in terms of more family bonding, religious commitment and increased productivity."
Abdul Jaleel Al Bloushi, who works for a government HR department in the town of Kalba, said employees would need to show they could make a four-day week work.
"You see by the working hours, you will notice they have been extended. And now employees including myself have an incentive to do better performance," he said.
He said many will appreciate the chance to be "more present in the lives of our children and families".
School situation not yet clear
Although it would appear likely that schools could fall in line with government work hours, headteachers said it was too soon to say whether pupils would attend classes on Fridays or not.
The country's public schools, largely attended by Emiratis, are overseen by a federal authority, while Sharjah's private schools are regulated by a local education authority.
Ibraheem Barakeh, director of the Al Shola group of private schools, said there were many factors to consider.
"We haven’t received anything official related to this decision, in terms of the shape of the school week," he said.
"We are eagerly waiting for details in order to be able to coordinate not only the new school week but also what’s connected to it, such as school holidays, final exams in each of the terms.
"We expect all of these factors were taken into consideration before the decision was taken."
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Copa del Rey
Barcelona v Real Madrid
Semi-final, first leg
Wednesday (midnight UAE)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
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Results
Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.
Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).
Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.
Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
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Opening weekend Premier League fixtures
Weekend of August 10-13
Arsenal v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Cardiff City
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Huddersfield Town v Chelsea
Liverpool v West Ham United
Manchester United v Leicester City
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Burnley
Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Volvo ES90 Specs
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