Thursday, the Emirate of Sharjah in the UAE decided to reduce the official working week to four days only, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday as full days off.

This decision comes two days after the United Arab Emirates announced that it will adopt a four and a half day working week with Saturday and Sunday as full days off.

The Sharjah Government Media Office said that the weekly work system will be changed in the Emirate “in line with the vision of the United Arab Emirates to enhance its competitive position for various sectors in a way that supports the business environment and the economic market.”

According to the statement, the new system that will be applied to government agencies in the Emirate, “the weekly work system becomes four working days, starting from Monday until Thursday, and the weekend becomes Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”

The new weekly work system for government agencies will be adopted starting from Jan. 1 with the official working hours from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM.