International banks in UAE to switch to Monday to Friday work week

The German bank will from Jan. 3 operate Monday-Friday in the Sunni Muslim-ruled country, instead of the current Sunday-Thursday as is common around the Middle East, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.Wall Street-based JPMorgan is also adapting the The banks’ move comes after the UAE said on Dec. 7 that it would shift to a four-and-a-half day week with a Saturday-Sunday weekend from the start of next year.Private companies are, however, free to choose their own working week in the oil-producing Gulf state which is the region’s commercial, trade and tourism hub.Over the past year, the UAE has taken measures to make its economy more attractive to foreign investment and talent at a time of growing economic rivalry with Saudi Arabia.