Saudi Arabia switches start of weekend

Saudi Arabia is to change the start of its two-day weekend from Thursday to Friday, official sources say.

A royal decree takes effect this week.

After Oman switched to a Friday-Saturday weekend last month, Saudi Arabia was the only country left among the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council to persist with the old format.

The change will bring it into line with other countries in the region and help co-ordinate business and banking days.

Friday remains a holiday in Muslim countries because it is a holy day set aside for communal prayer.