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KSA Working Week

Last activity 27 June 2013 by Josnuggles

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Josnuggles

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has today issued a royal order that Friday and Saturday should be the new weekend holidays. The original weekend in the Kingdom was Thursday-Friday.



Accordingly, the order will be enforced Saturday, June 29 2013

How do you feel about this?

brightonguy

You forgot to add this is for Saudi Arabia :) I don't have any major problems with it - but I don't think this is good for the business in Bahrain. Effectively, Bahrain had a 3-day weekend for public places because of Saudis coming to Bahrain on a Wednesday night, making the places busy. Now many places will be packed and some people will prefer not to go out because of that.

brightonguy

Just ignore me on you not mentioning Saudi Arabia. The title says it loud and clear :)

Josnuggles

And I also posted it on the Saudi forum.

It will be much better for the working week. Now all countries are working Monday - Thursday

The kids of families who live in Bahrain but a parent works in Saudi get to see their parents more too.

As for going out - I'm sure there are more than enough clubs to go around. Also the Saudi's tend to want to be back in KSA on the Friday (family day) so they will be here one day less

Chrispc

As I work in Saudi this is very good news, not only because having Saturday off is great but we have European bosses so can be difficult to coincide meetings when you only have Mon, Tues and Weds as common working days.

Probably will have a negative effect on the amount of visitors to Bahrain but roll on the footie season!!

Josnuggles

I'm hoping it has a negative effect on visitors here with the amount of Saudi's ruining lives of the residents in Jufair etc

scottrace

This family think it is awesome news.  2 years of only seeing OH and Dad one day a week is taking its toll.  And not being invited to things by friends whose OH's dont work on a Saturday is depressing.  For business worldwide and the many, many families it affects its awesome - if it means a few less Dinar's for the bars in Bahrain, so be it - we are all here spending most of our money anyway.

Dancing a little happy dance :D

Josnuggles

Wish the king had said what time the law would be implemented to save all the corporate arguments. Or even set the new law to take effect on a Tuesday.

HR are arguing with legal, who are arguing with the employee's

Typical GCC mentality. Bring in a new rule and let them sort themselves out!!

scottrace

I agree Josnuggles - we are not sure whether we have this Thursday or this Saturday or neither!!  Mix GB company with KSA and we have a disaster - yawn!!

Josnuggles

Law is implemented on Saturday so we still have Thu/Fri. Depending on what time the new law is implemented depicts whether Sat is a weekend day or not.

GCC.............. guess what?? Up to the guy who didn't sleep well in each company

jazzy851

It would be interesting to find out if the traffic improves in Juffair and Adliya. :)

brightonguy

A friend of mine who works in Dhahran said his company giving Saturday off this weekend, meaning a 3-day weekend for them.

scottrace

It makes sense because if you make them work this Thursday or on Saturday one of the weeks is 6 days which is unfair.

However, if your company happens to be one of the many who think 6 days (or 7) is acceptable as a working week they will not be swayed by this argument and appear to be interpreting it as they wish.

brightonguy

And I'm sure there will be many of them scottrace :(

Josnuggles

The law isn't implemented until Saturday so Thu/Fri are still officially the days off.

Unfortunately the "king" hasn't said at what time the law takes effect on Saturday so it is up to the individual company to decide.

Why not make it change on a Monday or announce an official holiday is weird beyond belief

scottrace

Not weird - just the Middle East - as its the last day before the weekend now, no one will make a decision so it will be business as usual on Saturday and everyone must work a 6 day week next week :(

Josnuggles

Everyone I know is having a 3 day weekend this weekend including my hubby :D

scottrace

Not everyone you know :(

Josnuggles

That's not good news. My hubby only got told late yesterday that they had a 3 day weekend. Hopefully Scott's company will do the same.

brightonguy

Same's happening with Phil's. They're going to have a long-weekend. I've heard it's the same with Paddy and Alex.

Josnuggles

Yep :D

Chrispc

My company is working a 6 day week next week and they will add an extra day for Eid which is pretty fair

Josnuggles

Chrispc wrote:

My company is working a 6 day week next week and they will add an extra day for Eid which is pretty fair


That is a really good idea as a lot of people go on vacation then so they get an extra day to sort themselves out before going back to work

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