When is saudi arabia weekend

Most of the other Arab states of the Persian Gulf shifted their weekends in the early s, setting off the race for foreign investment. Most recently, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have begun to draw attention as high-growth emerging markets. Along with this external pressure, the Saudi business lobby continued to push for the change from within. At last, the royal family has assented. Until the change, the Saudi Arabian market found itself having only three working days in common with the non-Muslim world.

With an extra day of business, the Saudi Arabian economy has moved one step closer to opening up to foreign investment. A Saudi broker monitors stock market prices in a Riyadh investment bank. A royal decree takes effect this week. Related Topics. Saudi Arabia Trade. Play Live Radio. Next Up:. Available On Air Stations.

All Streams. Some religious conservatives had argued against moving to a Friday-Saturday weekend because they feared it smacked of westernisation. However, that argument did not enjoy serious support, said Saudi sociologist Khalid al-Dakhil. World News Updated.