Living in Dubai – Weekend

by Grace on January 11, 2010

weekend

Weekend in Dubai or the UAE as a whole is different and as a new expat, that must be one of the many things you need to adjust. Fridays are holy days in the Islamic world so all offices are closed. There’s no work or school on Friday.

The UAE weekend has different patterns, depending on the company you work for.

  • Friday-Saturday – the most common weekend, it is also the weekend for all schools
  • Thursday afternoon-Friday – stingy companies implement this
  • Friday only – just plain abuse

Our weekend schedule is globally unsynchronized. On Fridays when people from other countries are still working, making transactions and sealing deals, we are either at home, at the church, at the beach or at the malls. And when people living outside the UAE are enoying the Sunday sun, having picnic and barbeques outside, we are working.

Crazy stuff.

At first, it was hard for me to adjust to working on Saturdays and Sundays. I felt it was just not right! But then, what can an employee do but follow. The popular expression among expats here ring in my head, “If you don’t like it then leave.”

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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Maribeth January 11, 2010 at 4:36 pm

At 51, I’m not sure I could acclimate. Oh well, my working in the rat race days are over anyway.
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2 Dee January 11, 2010 at 7:00 pm

I work on the weekends and hate it! No matter what day a weekend is, I would always hate it.
Dee´s last blog ..THE ONE ABOUT NOTHING   

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3 Pasty Muncher January 11, 2010 at 7:42 pm

Wow I just saw this video of two fellas that base jumped from the Burj Dubai tower – incredible – video jumping off the world’s tallest building
Pasty Muncher´s last blog ..Dubai Burj Tower – Getting High in Dubai   

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4 George McKee January 12, 2010 at 2:32 am

What day of the week do the calendars start on over there?  

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5 sheila January 12, 2010 at 4:24 am

Well, that’s odd. I mean, it’s not there of course, but wow.

At any rate, just looking at the beach chair…then out my window at snow…hurts my feelings. lol :)
sheila´s last blog ..I’m Changing My Name   

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6 Kayla January 12, 2010 at 9:10 am

Hm. I’m sure that if you’ve been there long enough you’ll get used to the work schedule-Actually here in the U.S., most people I know work on the weekends.
Kayla´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday(1/11)   

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7 Anthony January 12, 2010 at 7:54 pm

God, here is snowy england seeing this type of weather makes me sad!!  

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8 Nash January 13, 2010 at 1:49 am

its a great place to get away from the british weather  

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9 Urban Thought January 13, 2010 at 12:48 pm

You know what they say… when in Vegas. Oh wait, it’s when in Rome. Either way, glad you got used to it. It’s one thing to not want to and go in with that, and another to assimilate. Peace of mind is better when you give in a little. But you still get your personal time, so that’s good.
Urban Thought´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Over The Edge   

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10 Lorie Shewbridge January 14, 2010 at 5:48 am

What a beautiful photograph, I would love to be on a boat on the water in warm weather right now.
My hubby used to work six days a week every week and always on the weekend because he worked in retail food. The busiest times of the week are on the weekends, so he always had to work them. It was always hard for us to plan something for the family. He did like having aday off during the week to get all of his other things done however, i.e. doctor’s appointments, haircuts (when he had hair :-) ), banking, etc.
Wish you were able to get both Saturday & Sunday off, maybe some day soon.
Lorie Shewbridge´s last blog ..Tim Hawkins: Things You Don’t Say to Your Wife   

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11 cpr certification January 15, 2010 at 10:35 am

weekend in dubai is the best idea.. i would love to spend my weekend in the sea beach..

CPR Classes  

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12 Online GMAT January 15, 2010 at 10:39 am

i’ll spend my next holiday in DUBAI.. could you please suggest me any good travel agency ??

GMAT Prep
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13 outdoor toys January 15, 2010 at 10:41 am

i don’t like sea beach a lot because i have fallen in love with mountains.. but i would like to spend a holiday in Dubai..

Pogo Sticks  

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14 Soham Chowdhury January 15, 2010 at 10:45 am

i am going to dubai..  

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