The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has announced new working hours for its healthcare facilities in accordance with the new decision taken by the UAE government to modify the country's workweek system effective from January 2022.

Last month, the UAE government announced the transition to a four-and-a-half day working week. With the new decision coming into place, Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday will be forming the new weekend.

In line with these changes, here are the new working hours for DHA's health facilities

COVID-19 testing centres

· Al Nasr Club Centre will work on weekdays from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm

· Mall of the Emirates Centre will work on all days from 10 am to 6 pm

Medical Fitness Centres

· Rashidiya, Al Karama and Salem Smart Centres will work from Monday to Thursday from 7 am to 10 pm. On Fridays, these centres will open from 7.30 am until noon

· Al Quoz, Bur Dubai, Al Nahda, Al Garhoud, and Al Yalayes centres will work from Monday to Thursday between 7 am and 10 pm. On Fridays, the centres will operate in two shifts - a) 7.30 am to 12 pm; and b) 4 pm to 8.30 pm

· DAFZA, the Al Lisaili, Emirates Airlines, and Knowledge Village Centres will work from Monday to Thursday from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm. On Fridays, these centres will work from 7.30 am until Noon.

· JAFZA, the Dubai International Financial Centre and Emirates Centre will open from Monday to Thursday, from 8 am until 4 pm. On Fridays, the working hours will be from 8 am until 12.30 pm.

· Zabeel Centre will open from Monday to Thursday from 7.30 am to 10 pm and on Fridays from 7.30 am to 12 pm

· Land Department Centre will only open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm

· Al Muhaisnah Centre will work round-the-clock from Sunday to Thursday from 7 am until 11 pm. There will be a prayer break from 1 pm to 2 pm on Fridays.

Hospitals

The DHA has announced that emergency departments will work on all days. However, working hours of Dubai Hospital and Rashid Hospital's specialised clinics will be from 7.30 am to 10 pm. In addition, the staff will work in shifts. The visiting timing for patients at Rashid Hospital has been kept from 5 pm to 6 pm and at the Dubai Hospital from 4 pm to 8 pm.

For the Latifa Hospital, the working timings for outpatient clinics have been kept from Monday to Thursday between 8 am and 3 pm. The clinics will operate from 8 am to 11.30 pm on Friday. Furthermore, the visiting hours for patients have been kept in two shifts - a) 10 am to 1 pm; and b) 7 pm to 8 pm.

At the Hatta Hospital, the outpatient clinic will be working from Monday to Thursday from 7.30 am to 2.30 pm and on Friday from 2 pm to 9 pm. Patients can visit the hospital in two shifts - from 7.30 am until noon and from 4 pm to 8 pm from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, the visiting hours will be from 2 pm to 9 pm.

DHA has also stated that the Nad Al Hamar, Al Barsha, Al Khawaneej, Al Bida and Dubai Airports Health Centres will continue to work round-the-clock.

Meanwhile, a majority of other primary healthcare centres will operate from Monday to Thursday from 7.30 am to 10 pm and on Friday from 7.30 am to Noon. However, Al Lisaili Health Centre, Al Mizhar Health Centre, and Abu Hail Health Centre will also function from 8 am to 2.30 pm on Sundays.

Specialized Centres

These specialised centres will operate from Sunday to Thursday from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm and on Fridays from 7.30 am to 12 pm:

1. Dubai Diabetes Centre

2. Dubai Centre for Complementary Medicine

3. Dubai Cord Blood and Research Centre

4. Senior Citizens' Happiness Centre

· In addition, inpatient working hours at the Dubai Thalassemia Centre has been kept between 7 am to 9.30 pm from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, the centre will be operating from 8 am to 8.30 pm. Furthermore, outpatient services will work from 7.30 am to 2.30 pm from Monday to Thursday and from 8 am to 12.30 pm on Fridays.

· Dubai Fertility Centre will operate from Monday to Thursday from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm and on Fridays from 7.30 am to 12 pm. The Centre will also work on weekends from 10 am until noon on an appointment-only basis.

· The timing for Dubai Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation has been decided from 7.30 am to 6 pm from Monday to Friday and on Sundays from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm.

Additionally, the Dubai Blood Donation Centre will be open for services from 7 am until 8.30 pm.