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veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I just read on another board that the Emirates is switching to a Friday/Saturday rather than Thursday/Friday weekend as of September.

Any truth to that rumor? Was supposedly in the newspaper?

Does anyone care? (never really mattered much to me)

VS

Gnocchiman · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 68 Location: Limbo

The Friday/Saturday weekend was announced in the Gulf News a couple of days ago. It's supposed to go into effect September 1st.

Do I care? Not really. But, I do think they should consider a Friday/Saturday AND Sunday weekend! That would work for me! Cool

Emily-Jane · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Eire

yes, a friend of mine in Sharjah told me the news last night. I guess it will take some getting used to for those living there already Laughing

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

In all my years there I never 'really' got used to the changed weekend. I still had the tendency to say to the students on Wednesday, "The homework for Monday is..."

At first, they would sort of sit there looking confused until someone would say, "Monday?" Soon enough they learned to just laugh and know that I meant Saturday.

When I first went to Egypt, the weekend at my university was Friday and Sunday!! But, there were classes on Saturday. Then they switched to Friday/Saturday and ticked off all the Christian students. We teachers were thrilled though...

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:55 pm Post subject:

After living in Egypt and returning to the UAE, I can say that I'm glad to see the weekends more 'aligned' and hope that the rest of the Gulf nations who haven't changed yet, follow suit soon. From a business perspective, it aligns the UAE with countries in the west and eases business transactions (I recall sending bank transfers back to the States and waiting as it passed through 4 days of 'weekend').

TABING · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 123 Location: right behind you

Yes, isn't it wonderful that we're now in synch with the Israeli weekend.

stoth1972 · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 10:10 pm Post subject:

TABING · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 123 Location: right behind you

My comment was strictly "tongue in cheek", but I certainly pointed it out to some of "matawah" colleagues for their reaction.

Yes this change is in order to allow the greedy local businessmen here to be able to to buy a few more Mecedes Benzes every year to add to their collection of the dozens that they already have.

As for international banks, they are "international" in name only. UAE banking laws don't allow foreign banks to compete on a level playing field, if they did, the inefficient local banks would be out of business in no time. If you have an account in an international bank here, try withdrawing money from it in the west, or vice versa, you'll soon find out that there is no connection, at least that's been my experience.

Rant over.

DesertStar · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 80 Location: UAE Oasis