Exclusive: Sharjah government authority explains new four-day work rule

Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Chairman of the Emirates Department of Government Relations in Sharjah, explains what the new four-day workweek entails for local government employees and the economy.

During a conversation with Dubai Eye 103.8's Business Breakfast, the official explains how the working hours will increase by one hour per day, but see an overall increase in focus and efficiency owing to the three-day cooldown period.

Sharjah will be adopting Friday as a full weekend, in contrast to the other emirates who have all announced 4.5 workdays. This means, government employees across the UAE will work a half-day on Friday, while Sharjah government employees take the day off from work.

When questioned about inter-governmental collaboration, Sheikh Fahim tells ARN that Sharjah agencies will focus on these projects from Monday to Thursday, and assures that productivity will see a spike.

The official also added that Sharjah is ready to implement the new mandates by January, and that the departments are finalising revised contracts for employees across the board.

An important aspect of this work-week shift is its impact on schools. Sheikh Fahim said that the federally operated schools in Sharjah almost certainly follow the four-day school week.

However, private schools are supposedly in talks with the education authority in Sharjah to determine the best course of action. A decision will be made in "due course", said Sheikh Fahim, without elaborating.

The full interview is available below: