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Working days per week
As a result of a labour reform in 2006, the “Thursday–Friday“ weekend was replaced by the
“Friday-Saturday“ weekend
in all GCC states.
This change meant that UAE working days were more
closely aligned to those of the Western world. Most employees work 5 days per week
, although a
5.5- or 6-day week is common practice among several companies in the UAE as well. Pursuant to
the labour law, “Friday is the normal weekly holiday for all employees except for those on daily wage
bases”.
Ø 5 days per week
Vacation days per year
Full-time employees working in the UAE are entitled to holiday leave as per the Labour Law, which
broadly includes annual or recreational leave, sick leave and maternity leave. However, the structure
of holidays differs for the public and the private sectors. With regard to public holidays, it is open to
private sector employers to grant their employees a holiday or to pay them instead: “The employee
must be granted an
annual leave during each year
of service which may not be less than (…)
two
days per month.” Eighty per cent
of the respondents stated that they receive an annual leave allo-
wance of
30 days
, while 13 per cent of the employees are authorised to take 25 days. The remaining
7 per cent take between 24 and 22 days’ annual leave. During an employment probation period
employees are not entitled to any leave. Contrary to the European standard, annual leave is usually
calculated on the basis of calendar days rather than working days.
Ø 30 days paid leave
Working hours per week
The working week in the UAE varies between the mandatory 40 and 48 hours, depending on an indi-
vidual company’s policy. As per the UAE’s Labour Law, the provision covering working time reads as
follows: “The maximum normal working hours for adult employees shall be eight hours per day or
forty eight hours per week”. In the month of Ramadan, the working day is reduced to six hours per
day.
As can be seen on the graph, the collected data shows that practices reflect the legal regulations.
Companies from the German-speaking economy are in line with market requirements concerning
their general conditions.
Working conditions
Average working hours per week
> 61
56 - 60
51 - 55
46 - 50
41 - 45
36 - 40
35 >
9%
8%
12%
27%
31%
10%
3%
HR & Salary Report 2015