Kuwait Shifts its Weekend

KUWAIT May 29, 2007 - The Kuwaiti government announced yesterday that they will shift the weekend holiday from the currently Thursday + Friday to Friday + Saturday starting on September of this year. This move was anticipated long time ago.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />   

 

This change is to make it easier for financial institutions and trades with international communities. In the current system, government offices are closed Thursday and  Friday, combine that with the weekend all over the world of Saturday and Sunday, then you will have a long non trading period of 4 days. This move should improve communications between the country and the outside world.  

 

Currently only the Banks and the state run Oil sectors have Friday + Saturday off while other working sectors (government, private and schools) have Thursday + Friday off. With this move, all government and private work sectors as well as schools and universities will have a unified weekend. 

 

Locally some people are with the move, while others against it. 

With this move, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Kuwait will be inline with the other three Gulf States who already have Friday and Saturday off (UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain). Saudi Arabia and Oman are the remaining two Gulf States who still have Thursday and Friday weekend.

 

Footage Credit: CRSA and others.