It is said other Arabic countries will follow the United Arab Emirates in adopting a Western working week.
From this year, the UAE has observed Saturday and Sunday as holiday instead of Friday and Saturday as is the case in most Islamic countries.
If there are further changes, my money is that Kuwait will not lead the field.
Certainly a Western week would be more efficient, as the UAE maintains.
No doubt the army of expatriates who do the menial work in Kuwait would welcome it.
On Sunday night, these expats gather after church and literally fill public spaces.
If it were to happen, it would mean the working week for Kuwaitis would expand from three-and-a-half to five days.
I was invited to Kuwait to observe elections in the nineties.
“What do you think of our democracy?” a reporter asked me.
“Well you still have no women voting,” I replied. “So there is some way to go.”
The oil-rich Kuwaitis, who had just been liberated from a brief Iraqi occupation when I visited, are the most pampered people I have encountered.
The oil which is the source of their wellbeing snd obviates the need for any Kuwaiti to pay tax doe not require pumping.
Most of irises from natural pressure to the wells above sea level.
It is then piped by gravity down to the terminals for shipping abroad
Kuwaitis have free education and, when it comes to tertiary learning, they get bursaries to study abroad if the course they chose is not offered at Kuwaitis universities.
Equally they have free health care with treatment abroad paid for by the state if it is unavailable at home.
A married couple is given a house and generous allowances for each child born.
It was well nigh impossible to arrange interviews with officials when I was there. They were never in their offices.
The Kuwaiti working week goes thus:
Monday is the start of the and there is no need to peak early. So go home at lunchtime.
Tuesday is the second working. Flexitime rules in Kuwait, so start at 10am and leave around 3pm.
Ditto Wednesday.
Thursday is the eve of the weekend, so prepare for it by going home at lunchtime.
Friday is the sabbath. No work.
Saturday is the second day of the weekend. No work.
Sunday, well the practically the rest of the world it not working on Sunday, so why buck the trend. No work.
Who would blame a Kuwaiti for saying if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.