Saudi Arabia will switch its weekend to Friday-Saturday from its current Thursday-Friday, following a decision by the kingdom’s Shoura Council.
The legislative and consultative body on Monday approved a recommendation to make the change, with 83 members voting in favour and 41 members against. It was not specified when the switch would be made.
The decision will be applied to workers in the public sector.
Saudi Arabia was the only country in the GCC to operate according to a Thursday-Friday holiday, with the other five nations in the bloc all taking off Friday-Saturday. Authorities in the Oman were the most recent to make the change.
The decision could help boost trade not only between Saudi and other Arab countries, but also the international business community, which generally works to a Saturday-Sunday weekend.
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