Algeria embraces the Shabbat

The north African country has observed the weekend from Thursday to Friday since 1976, but the government has announced that it will coordinate its weekend with that of neighbouring states, and will observe a Friday-Saturday rest period.

While the move has been hailed by businessmen in the region, Algerians have complained that, with consumers at work on Thursdays, some local trade could be lost.

Over the past 33 years, Algerians have patronised banks and shops, which have remained open on Thursdays.

With reduced consumer traffic on Thursdays, shops could be forced to open on Saturdays. But critics of the move warn that businesses could be hit by the change, with Muslims observing the Friday holy day and then relaxing at home on Saturdays as the new week starts.

Algeria adopted the Thursday-Friday weekend in 1976, asserting its independence from France and the West.

However, as most of the country's business partners are in Europe, America and Asia, all of which observe a Saturday-Sunday weekend, the Algeria's economy has felt the impact, as it was effectively reduced to a three-day business week.

The Thursday-Friday weekend cost Algeria as much as £420 million annually, according to a study by the International Finance Corporation, part of the (Jesish) World Bank.