Some residents yearn for an early start to work, ideally 6am

Finishing work by afternoon would give more time to rest, spend time with family, say residents

- Waad Barakat

Some UAE residents are calling for an earlier start to their workday, as early as 6am. Citing existing routines like waking up for Fajr prayer or early morning workouts, some say starting then would allow them to finish by early afternoon.

This, in turn, would give them more time to rest, run errands or spend with family. Others argue it could boost productivity and reduce screen fatigue, especially during the summer months.

For Dubai resident Amina Al Hammadi, the day begins well before sunrise.

"I wake up for Fajr around 4.03am these days," she said, referring to the first Islamic prayer of the day. "By the time I'm done with my prayer and breakfast, I'm wide awake and ready. But I still have to wait two, sometimes three hours before work starts. I wish I could just get going at 6am and finish early," she said.