On January 1st, 2022, with the aim of improving work-life balance and increasing the country's economic competitiveness performance, an amendment to the Labor Law of the United Arab Emirates came into force to grant one more afternoon off, Friday afternoon, the day of the weekly great prayer in Muslim countries.

In this way, the UAE is the first nation in the world to introduce a four and a half day work week.

The decision was made on December 7th, 2021, but the new "national work week" became mandatory for the public sector from January 2022.