UAE CHANGES WEEKEND TO FRIDAY-SATURDAY

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002045

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL, NEA/ARP, EB
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR BELL, KARESH, AND ROSENBURG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PHUM PREL ETRD AE
SUBJECT: UAE CHANGES WEEKEND TO FRIDAY-SATURDAY

REF: A. ABU DHABI 1723


B. ABU DHABI 1223


1. (U) The UAE announced on May 17 that beginning September
1, 2006, all schools and government offices will move from a
Thursday-Friday weekend to a Friday-Saturday weekend.
Although the Cabinet decision applies only to federal and
government organizations and public and private schools, many
UAE officials anticipate that the private sector will change
to a Friday-Saturday weekend as well. (Note: Dubai's private
sector already follows a Friday-Saturday weekend. End note.)



2. (SBU) Labor Minister Ali Al Ka'abi personally advocated
for this change, as he believes it will bring the UAE more
"in-line" with the international business community. On
April 23, Minister Al Ka'abi told Ambassador that he had
proposed to the UAE Cabinet that the public sector change the
weekend from the current Thursday-Friday schedule to a
Friday-Saturday weekend (ref A). Al Ka,abi said that
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, favored
the change and would even prefer a Saturday-Sunday weekend.


3. (SBU) Al Ka'abi had previously told USG officials that the
changed work week would be a component of the upcoming
revisions to the labor law. During a March 18 meeting with
DRL DAS Barks-Ruggles and Ambassador, Al Ka'abi said that the
"most important" part of the draft labor law under review by
the chambers of commerce and business groups was the
provision changing the weekend to Friday-Saturday (ref B).
However, the May 17 announcement was a stand-alone
announcement, and had nothing to do with expected revisions
to the labor law.


4. (U) Commenting on the changed workweek, the
English-language daily "Gulf News" reported May 17 that a
study conducted by the National Human Resources Development
and Employment Authority (Tanmia) showed that changing the
workweek would boost the stock markets, banks, insurance
companies, and the UAE's foreign trade. Tanmia also
anticipates the change will help to increase private sector
business activity and reduce losses from the interruption
caused by the difference between the UAE's weekend and the
rest of the world.
SISON