The issue was presented to the Shoura by Ahmed Al-Zaylae following demands from various business sectors in the Kingdom to change the holidays to Friday and Saturday to protect their business interests.

Many people have expressed objection to the plan but proponents said the present weekend is counterproductive to business. Earlier, the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry decided to change its weekend to Friday and Saturday, but it was forced to undo that under pressure from various sectors.

The banking and foreign trade sectors as well as diplomatic missions are the worst hit by the current weekend because most countries elsewhere in the world have their weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

Since weekends in the Kingdom are set on Thursdays and Fridays, businesses in effect are unable to keep in touch with their foreign counterparts for four days each week.