Kuwait Times

KUWAIT, May 28:  Kuwait said yesterday it will change its weekend to Friday and Saturday in line with most fellow Gulf Arab states to have an extra working day with its major trading partners. Government employees, which make up a large part of Kuwait's workforce, will work from Sunday to Thursday starting from September 1 this year, the Cabinet said in a statement. Public sector offices and most private businesses had been shut on Thursday. Kuwaiti banks already work from Sunday until Thursday, reflecting strong ties with Europe and the United States.

The change would solve many problems with different working days in Kuwait and other countries, Cabinet Affairs Minister Faisal Al-Hajji told state news agency KUNA. The private sector is not bound to follow the government. Major OPEC producer Kuwait depends on oil exports, particularly to Asia and the United States.

Except for conservative kingdom Saudi Arabia and Oman, all other Gulf states have switched working weeks to Sunday-Thursday as their leaders are using oil revenues to diversify their economies and attract investors. Kuwait is keen to emulate the success of Gulf neighbours Dubai and Bahrain, which have become regional financial centres and popular tourist destinations.

Several Islamist MPs had issued statements opposing the government's plans to shift the weekend from to Friday-Saturday. The MPs said their opposition is based on the fact that such a move will mean imitating the