Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences will adopt a 4.5-day work week from January 1 following news that the UAE would adopt a shorter work week for federal employees.
The university will also adopt the new Saturday-Sunday weekend, in line with the UAE’s mandate for federal entities. The UAE government left the private sector to decide whether it would adopt the new work week, with many companies and schools already announcing they would follow the government’s lead.
The university will operate remotely on Fridays, which will now be a half day.
“We found that the weekend shift bears no implications as no change in the teaching and credit hours, in lab requirements, nor in class will occur. Our undergraduate students will continue to have classes on Monday through Thursday as a full-day and will move to online learning on Fridays, and students with clinical training will adhere to their program schedule,” Professor Zaid Baqain, provost at the university said.
During the pandemic, much learning shifted online, giving schools and universities the confidence that online education is viable.
Rasha Abbas, senior director of human resources said: “The new work schedule enables employees to maintain a good work life balance and helps us create a work environment in which everyone is committed to perform at their best while maintaining a healthy mind and body, allowing us to increase productivity.”
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