Dubai's 4-day work week got us thinking: What would Indians do with an extra leave?

Published 3 July 2026 · india

"Kaash ek aur din mil jaata." The last day of a vacation or the final day of the weekend always comes with the same feeling

"Kaash ek aur din mil jaata." The last day of a vacation or the final day of the weekend always comes with the same feeling — if only there was just one more day to relax before hitting the grind, again. Amidst all the chatter around burnout, work-life balance, hot takes on working hours and the hustle culture, a three-day weekend is nothing short of a fantasy for most Indians. Read Full Story Dubai recently re-introduced its 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative for its government sector. Running from June 29 to September 10, the programme offers two flexible work models. One lets employees work seven-hour days from Monday to Thursday with a shorter Friday. The other one compresses the work week into four eight-hour days, giving employees a three-day weekend. The idea is simple: better work-life balance without compromising productivity. Interestingly, the idea is not completely foreign to India. The new Labour Codes include an optional provision for a compressed work week, allowing employees to work up to 12 hours a day over four days. It hasn't become the norm, but it signals that the conversation around flexible work is slowly finding its way here too. So when Dubai announced its initiative, we couldn't help but wonder: what would Indians actually do with a three-day weekend? We asked around, and the answers were pretty interesting and highlighted how the hustle is deeply entrenched in our minds. People have elaborate plans for a day that they don't even have yet! Self-optimisation mode: ON For Tanya Garg, a 27-year-old media professional, there would definitely be a timetable — or at least she'd like to believe so. "I'd dedicate a few hours to upskilling. Reading novels, attending workshops to improve my writing, or taking digital marketing courses and getting certifications. I think that'll eventually show in my work too." Ishmeet Singh, a 32-year-old senior analyst in public relations, called it the "luxury of trying things you otherwise keep pushing for someday." "I'd probably use that extra day to invest in becoming a little more me, whether that's through learning something new, building something exciting or just doing cool stuff I normally wouldn't have time for." The younger generation is keen to use the extra weekend day to upskill.

(Photo: Pexels) And it's not just younger professionals trying to optimise every waking hour. A 58-year-old sales consultant has a similar game plan. "One day would definitely be to improve myself: either I'd resume a hobby I've procrastinated on for years, invest time in my health, or simply do something just for myself," Abhay Sahay told India Today assertively. He is already looking forward to restarting his Instagram account about cooking and, perhaps, one day turning it into a side gig. Looks like productivity plans are already in place. Side hustles for the win Let's not even get into the conversation around the job market and unemployment. Everyone seems to have a side hustle brewing. From ghostwriting and freelancing to cloud kitchens and content creation, there's a passion project waiting in bookmarked tabs, and people are exploring new ways to create an additional source of income. Singh believes that investing in yourself eventually pays off. "If I can actually use that extra day to upskill, learn something new, or build on a passion, there's a good chance it'll pay off in the long run," he said. Garg agreed. "Once I finish those certification courses, I can probably start a side hustle in a few months. I could even do social work. I've volunteered with children before, and I'd love to do that again." Then there's leisure Not everyone wants to spend their bonus Friday chasing productivity. "I'd definitely turn it into more long-weekend getaways and probably become a tourist in my own city," said Krati, a 33-year-old IT professional. "Leisure will always, always be there. Even if I don't mention it, it's always there," Garg chuckled. Interestingly though, not one person said they'd spend the day doing absolutely nothing. Leisure hardly escapes the plan (Photo: Pexels) It seems everyone is carrying around a list of unfinished business. Speaking of it, a 25-year-old, Sansriti, had a rather practical wish: leave for work. "Believe it or not, my colleague and I have spoken about this so many times during our work rants.