Eight months after Sharjah adopted a four-day work week, the number of road-related accidents and deaths in the emirate has been slashed by 40 per cent.
In the first three months of the year, the emirate noted a huge reduction in traffic accidents and fatalities compared with the same period last year.
Findings from a study presented at a Sharjah Executive Council meeting on Tuesday attributed the drop in road traffic accidents to the new working week.
Officials said there has also been a significant boost in government employee productivity. Those working in departments that enjoy a Friday to Sunday weekend reported feeling healthier and happier, with more time to spend with their families.
As a result, customer happiness also improved across a number of Sharjah government services.
The study was based on experiences from workers in the policing, environment, human resources and financial sectors in the emirate.
In addition to a decrease in traffic accidents and casualties, the shift to the new work week also resulted in a significant drop in the emission of gases such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. This is because fewer people were commuting to work.
Sharjah rang in the changes on January 1 by introducing a four-day work week after the UAE federal government adopted a Saturday-Sunday weekend, with half a day of work on Fridays.
In June, The National spoke to people in the emirate about how life had changed since the new working practices were implemented.
Emirati Nassir Al Kashwani, who works for the Sharjah Department of Finance, said he was a happier and more engaged parent.
“I have four children and I'm spending more time with them. I have become more of a friend to them than just a father," Mr Al Kashwani said.
"I have built a strong bond with the children and have discovered more about their interests".
A three-day weekend has been a blessing for the restaurant industry, especially after the pandemic.
Restaurants and hotels have since a boost in trade with people having more leisure time.
The move a four-day work week has gathered pace around the world.
In February, Belgium made the switch without loss of salary, while the UK began a trial of a four-day working week in June.
In Scotland, a government trial is due to start in 2023, while Wales is also considering it.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Sharjah council directed a follow up to the study until the end of the year, where it will reassess the pros and cons of the new work week.
UAE work week changes - in pictures
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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On sale: Now
SPECS
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RACE CARD
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 (PA) Listed Dh230,000 1,600m
6.30pm: HH The President’s Cup (PA) Group 1 Dh2.5million 2,200m
7pm: HH The President’s Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,200m.
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".
Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach
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Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand
(Saturday, 12pm UAE)
Wales v South Africa
(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)
