It really may be happening: Saudi Arabia is reportedly considering a switch to a three-day weekend, according to local media.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in the Kingdom is said to be reviewing the labour system and any changes would need to consider job creation targets.
The move is aimed at making working in Saudi Arabia more attractive to both local and international investment.
Currently, most major organisations in the Kingdom have a Friday and Saturday weekend, but a switch to a three-day weekend has already been deemed a success in parts of the UAE.
Saudi Arabia and beyond: Signs 3-day weekend really works
Government agencies in Sharjah moved to a four-day working week last year, and the results have been impressive. Productivity has increased by 88%, positive communication between employees has risen by 81%, and sick leave has decreased by 46%.
The three-day weekend is not a new concept, and its history can be traced back to the early 20th century. In the US, a five-day workweek was introduced in 1908, and it wasn’t until 1940 that the two-day weekend was established nationwide.
The 3-day weekend: A short history
The idea of a three-day weekend was first proposed in the 1920s, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that it became more widespread, thanks in part to the oil crisis and the resulting desire to reduce energy consumption.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the three-day weekend, with studies showing that it can lead to increased productivity, better work-life balance, and improved mental health.
Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Shake Shack have experimented with four-day workweeks, and in Japan, Microsoft tested a three-day weekend in 2019, with promising results.
The move to a three-day weekend in Saudi Arabia would be a significant change, and it remains to be seen how it would be implemented and what impact it would have.