No, Fridays Aren’t Turning Into Workdays, Qatar Confirms

If you’ve seen talk online about Fridays becoming workdays in Qatar—forget it. H.E. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, President of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau, made it clear during his Qatar TV interview on October 7 that those rumors are completely untrue.

He said the recent changes to the Civil Human Resources Law aren’t about making people work more—they’re about helping people work better.

What’s Actually Changing

So, what’s real? The new amendments are designed to make public sector life more flexible, rewarding, and aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030. Think: better work-life balance, faster promotions, and tangible rewards for great performance.

Here’s what stands out:

• Faster promotions based on performance and shorter waiting periods.

• Annual increments now roll out every January 1, with room to bump up to 150% depending on performance.

• Performance bonuses worth up to QAR 120,000 a year for top supervisory staff.

• In-kind rewards increased to QAR 5,000 for standout employees and departments.

• Overtime pay capped at QAR 10,000 for Qataris and QAR 5,000 for non-Qataris (for up to six months annually).

• New allowances, including recruitment, retention, and professional certification bonuses.

• Marriage perks, with QAR 12,000 in annual incentives for each spouse under certain conditions.

• Expanded maternity leave—three months fully paid, up to six months for twins or special cases, plus remote work options from the seventh month of pregnancy.

• More flexibility with emergency leave, permission hours, and student part-time job opportunities in government offices.

The Goal: Work Smarter, Live Better

Al Khalifa said the whole reform package aims to build a “flexible and responsive” government workforce—one that values accountability, innovation, and balance.

In short: less red tape, more recognition.