Saudi Arabia Considers Shifting Weekend to Saturday-Sunday in 2024

Saudi Arabia is considering a shift in its weekly holiday to align with other regional countries, moving from the current Friday-Saturday weekend to Saturday-Sunday starting in 2024. The potential change is currently under discussion by the Saudi government.

If implemented, the new weekend schedule would bring Saudi Arabia in line with most other countries in the region, potentially facilitating business and trade. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and several other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations already follow a Saturday-Sunday weekend.

Why this matters: The proposed shift in Saudi Arabia's weekend could have significant implications for the country's economy and its integration with regional partners. Aligning the weekend with other GCC countries may boost trade, tourism, and business opportunities across the region.

The move comes as Saudi Arabia faces a projected slowdown in economic growth this year due to a drop in oil prices and ongoing production cuts. The country's economy is expected to expand by 1.9% in 2024, down from previous forecasts of 3%. In contrast, the UAE is projected to have the fastest economic growth in the region at 4% in 2024.

Other GCC economies, such as Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, are also expected to see slower growth this year compared to earlier projections. However, the inflation outlook across the region remains relatively stable, with rates ranging between 1.3% and 2.8% in 2024. Saudi Arabia's inflation is projected at 2%, while the UAE and Qatar are expected to see inflation rates of 2.4%.

The Saudi government has not provided further details or a specific timeline for the decision on the potential weekend shift. The discussions are ongoing, and any official announcement will likely come closer to the proposed implementation date in 2024.

Key Takeaways

• Saudi Arabia considering shift to Sat-Sun weekend by 2024 to align with region
• Potential change aims to boost trade, tourism, and business opportunities in GCC
• Saudi economy projected to grow 1.9% in 2024, slower than previous forecasts
• Other GCC economies also expected to see slower growth in 2024 compared to earlier
• No specific timeline yet, discussions ongoing, official announcement likely closer to 2024