Bahrain's Weekend: Is Friday A Weekend Day?

The weekend is a time for rest and worship, and its definition varies across the world. In most countries, the weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday, but some Muslim-majority countries have historically had a Thursday-Friday weekend. In recent years, many of these countries have shifted to a Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday weekend to further business trade and cooperation.

In 2024, the United Arab Emirates changed its weekend to a Friday-Saturday weekend for the public sector, and Qatar's Planning Council has been researching how such a move is viewed in various sectors. This shift has sparked discussions in Bahrain about potentially changing its weekend to a Friday-Saturday weekend.

Bahrain's Economic Development Board Chairman, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa, suggested that Bahrain should adopt the Friday-Saturday weekend to stay competitive in the region and attract international companies. Islamic Bloc lawmaker, Ali Al Samaheeji, supported this idea, stating that it would allow Bahrain to boost business contacts with the rest of the world.

However, in 2023, Bahrain's public sector employees rejected a proposal to switch to the Friday-Saturday weekend through a referendum, arguing that it would negatively impact their family lives and traditions. As of my last update, Bahrain has a two-day weekend on Friday and Saturday.

Bahrain's weekend days

The Islamic Weekend

In Islam, Friday is the weekly day of prayer, when Jumu'ah prayers take place. Historically, some Muslim-majority countries, including Bahrain, had a Thursday-Friday weekend. However, in recent years, many of these countries have shifted to a Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday weekend to further business trade and cooperation with the West and the rest of the world.

Bahrain's Working Week

Bahrain has a Monday to Thursday working week. In 2021, there were 246 working days in the country, increasing to 251 if replacement holidays for those falling on weekends were not taken.

Potential Changes to the Weekend

There have been calls, particularly from businesses, to change Bahrain's weekend to a Saturday-Sunday schedule, as is the case in the West, to improve economic competitiveness. However, this proposal was rejected by public sector employees in a referendum in 2023, who argued that it would affect their family lives and traditions.

The Future of Bahrain's Weekend

It remains to be seen whether Bahrain will change its weekend days in the future. The country is a hub for Islamic finance, so keeping the current Friday-Saturday weekend may be beneficial. Additionally, Bahrain often follows the lead of Saudi Arabia, which has not changed its weekend days.

The country's working week

Bahrain currently has a Friday-Saturday weekend, with Sunday to Thursday being the working week. This is a typical weekend in the Middle East, with Friday being the weekly day of prayer when Jumu'ah prayers take place.

However, in 2024, there were discussions about changing the weekend to a Friday-Saturday-Sunday format, to align with the West and the non-Arab world, and to improve economic competitiveness. This change was implemented in the UAE, with Qatar also researching how this move is viewed in various sectors.

Bahrain's public sector employees rejected a proposal to switch weekends during a referendum in 2023, arguing that it would affect their family lives and traditions. The referendum results were contested by government officials, and the change has not been implemented as of yet.

Bahrain's working week is Monday to Thursday, with Friday being a day off to allow for Friday prayers. This is a common practice in the Middle East, with some countries having a Thursday-Friday weekend, and others having a Friday-only weekend.

The Friday prayer break

In Bahrain, the weekend is Friday and Saturday. This is a common weekend in many Muslim-majority countries, where Friday is the weekly day of prayer.

In 2024, a senior government official and a parliamentary bloc representative called for the adoption of the Friday-Saturday weekend in Bahrain. This was a week after the United Arab Emirates made the move to bring itself more in line with international business practice.

The chairman of Bahrain's Economic Development Board, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa, said:

> It is highly important that we make the move now so we do not fall behind other countries in the region, especially as we want Bahrain to be a global hub.

He suggested that the new weekend be implemented in September 2024, with the start of the new academic year, to allow families to plan their lives. Shaikh Mohammad also said that large international companies planning to open branches in the region invariably enquired about the weekend to assess their opportunities.

However, in 2023, Bahrain's public sector employees rejected a proposal to make the weekend switch during a referendum, arguing that it would affect their family lives and deep-rooted traditions.

The Friday Prayer

On Fridays, Muslims attend a congregational prayer called Jumu'ah, which consists of a sermon followed by a short prayer. This prayer is held every week after the sun passes its zenith and before the Asr (afternoon) prayer time begins.

The Friday prayer is considered obligatory for all Muslim men who are above the age of puberty and meet certain other conditions, such as being clean and sane. The prayer must be performed in congregation, and at least two other men are required to be present in addition to the Imam (prayer leader).

In Bahrain, the Friday prayer break will not work as a half-day break. This is because, before the prayer, Muslims need to take a bath and read the Quran for about an hour. Therefore, a longer break is required for people to get ready and reach the mosque on time.

The impact on the private sector

Bahrain's private sector has welcomed the change from a Thursday-Friday weekend to a Friday-Saturday weekend. This is because the vast majority of companies in the private sector already work from Sunday to Thursday, and the new weekend structure will mean they are no longer unable to do business with the government for one day each week.

The change will also bring Bahrain into line with other countries in the region, which will help the country maintain its competitiveness and make it more attractive to foreign investors. This is particularly important for Bahrain's focus on the banking sector, which was previously the hub for banking and finance in the region but has since been outpaced by developments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The new weekend structure will also have social benefits, with families now able to spend the same days off together, increasing the productivity of employees. It will also give families more time to travel and spend time together, improving work-life balance.

The change reflects the government's willingness to work with the private sector and will give the government a bigger window for dealing effectively with domestic and international affairs.

The country's economic competitiveness

Bahrain's weekend is Friday and Saturday.

Bahrain has a rich history, with the name, which means "two seas" in Arabic, dating back to the Dilmun civilisation around 6000 years ago. The country's advantageous location has long been a draw for merchants and multinationals.

Bahrain's economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas, with petroleum being the country's most exported product. However, Bahrain has little oil wealth compared to its Persian Gulf neighbours, and so the country has had to diversify its economy.

Bahrain has the second-highest-valued currency unit in the world, and its finance industry is very successful. Bahrain was named the world's fastest-growing financial centre by the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index in 2008. The country has a strong regulatory framework for the industry, and its finance and banking sectors have benefited from the regional boom driven by demand for oil.

Bahrain has also invested in heavy industries, retail, and tourism. The country is a regional financial and business centre, and tourism is a significant source of income.

Bahrain's other industries include aluminium smelting, with Aluminium Bahrain operating the world's largest single-site aluminium smelter outside of China. The country also has downstream businesses creating products for export, as well as downstream oil and gas, and ICT.

Bahrain's economic competitiveness is further demonstrated by its ranking in the World Economic Forum's 2019 Global Competitiveness Index, where it placed 45th out of 141 economies. The country also has the fourth-freest economy in the Middle East and North Africa region and is the 40th-freest economy in the world, according to the 2020 Index of Economic Freedom.

To maintain its competitiveness, Bahrain has initiated a series of labour reforms to bring the labour market in line with international standards. The country is also expanding its high-tech industries, investing in research and development, and strengthening its competitive edge within the global economy.

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