Dubai embarks on its ambitious plan to extend the hugely successful Our Flexible Summer program, Dubai has introduced a four-day working week and shorter working hours to government employees effective today. The updated working model, which is operational from July 1 to September 12, reflects the wider ambitions of the emirate to embrace modern ways of conducting government affairs through people-centred, flexible work approaches.
The rationale of the policy is to enhance the well-being of the employees, enhance the family life in period of summer school holidays and the development of a more flexible and effective public sector. This determination has been prompted by the success of a pilot program introduced in 2024, first installed in 21 government organizations and demonstrated gradual growth in the level of employee satisfaction, happiness, and output.
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What is the Reason behind this Change?
Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) is leading the initiative, and it is an extension of an effective pilot program in 2024 to 21 government entities. This experiment proved significant changes in employee happiness, teamwork spirit, and efficiency of the functioning.
Based on Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of DGHR, the top of the list is the Engineering Scientist position (this is because engineers happen to work more than scientists). Under these engineers are others involved in the field of engineering such as the Biology Scientist (second on their list), Sciences Scientist (third on their list) and Geology Scientist (fourth on their list).
This program will prove our deep commitment to improving the government work environment, which will be more versatile and responsive to employee needs and the society. He went even further and confirmed that the program is in line with the so-called Year of Community in UAE, which only supports the idea of strengthening the family bonds, particularly, during school summer holiday.
How the 2025 Summer Schedule Works
The flexible work arrangement applies to the government workers in all 21 approved public sector groups in Dubai and fits them into two groups of workers:
Group 1
- Work Days: Monday to Thursday
- Hours: 8 hours per day
- Friday: Off entirely
Group 2
- Work Days: Monday to Thursday
- Hours: 7 hours per day
- Friday: 4.5-hour workday
This hybrid strategy will enable employees to work more efficiently in the required departments and to have a good work-life balance in the hottest months of the year.
What Are the Expected Benefits?
The new workweek initiative will arguably provide multiple advantages both to the employees and to the society at large:
- Better employees and less stressful situations
- More time with the family and more matching with school holidays
- Increased productivity on the job with result based work
- Less traffic jams on major roads during peak travel time
- Reduced expense on utilities and energy charges on office spaces
Indeed, a survey, conducted by the government of Dubai, showed that a flexible schedule and remote employee work solutions may drastically reduce traffic and commuting time throughout the city.
What About Private Sector Employees?
At the moment, the four-day working week and shorter summer hours apply only to the governmental job sector in Dubai. But the demand of providing more opportunities to work remotely and flexible schedules are gathering pace even in the private sector.
In January 2025, a UAE government white paper indicated the affordability of flexible working hours to the benefit of both the public and private sectors based on heightened performance as well as reduced absenteeism and enhanced talent retention.
An Augmented Future of Work
Dubai has remained in the forefront in developing a robust and advanced working environment that not only values productivity but also individual health. The planned introduction of the ‘Our Flexible Summer’ in 2025 is an elucidation of the emirate to lead the world in progressive labor reform and smart governance.
With remote work policies currently up for debate and a established history of innovation in the field of service to the populace, it can only be a matter of time before it reverberates into the private sector – and it will result in new periods of flexibility throughout the UAE.
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Are You Eligible?
By working in the Dubai public sector, you should ask your HR department on confirmation that your entity is involved in the summer scheme. And, in case you work in the private sector, watch out, because the flexible work culture is not that far away.