
Dubai is switching its work week to align with global markets
CNN
The United Arab Emirates and its international finance hub Dubai are switching to a four-and-a-half-day work week ending midday Friday to make it easier to do business globally.
The move away from the current Sunday to Thursday schedule — the first by a Gulf state — will help the UAE "achieve business continuity and alignment with global economies and banking," the government said in a statement. The change will take effect on January 1.
The UAE, which has a predominantly Muslim population, said that work will end at 12 p.m. local time (3 a.m. ET) on Friday to allow people to attend prayers. Friday is considered the holiest day of the week for Muslims. From January, prayers will begin at 1.15 pm local, about an hour later than at present.

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