Ministry Refutes Claims of Shortened Week for Federal Staff

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources has refuted claims that employees will be eligible to work a four-day week from July 1st, should they choose to do so, following widespread news reports stating this change was due to be implemented. Reports had left parents and educators questioning whether a shortened school week across the UAE would be on the cards. 

The authority shared the correction on Twitter, stating in Arabic that "what has been circulated on social media platforms regarding changing working hours in the federal government from the beginning of July 2023 is not true". 

The UAE’s working week has undergone multiple transitions in recent years, changing to a Saturday-Sunday weekend in January 2022, which coincided with a move to a 4.5 day week for schools, with Fridays shortened to a midday finish. Sharjah introduced a four-day working week at the same time, which included a reduction to a four-day week for Sharjah schools, including private schools. 

The emirate’s private education authority, SPEA, reported positive results earlier this year, as a result of the change, citing a study that provided evidence of improvements for both school staff and students, including improved student social skills and relationships and academic achievement. Authorities also reported the number of road-related accidents and deaths in the emirate had reduced by 40 per cent. 

A move to a compulsory four day week for schools across the emirates would, however, present challenges to parents working in the private sector, where a full five day week remains the norm.

In a recent poll on Facebook community page, Parents United UAE, 48% of parents said that they would support a four-day school week, if the private sector work week was changed in line with this. Just 27% of parents said they would support this move regardless, while 25% said they would not support a four-day school week.