Latest news with #OurFlexibleSummer
Time Out Dubai
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
Dubai's four day week explained: Why people are working less in the emirate
A four day week is being introduced in Dubai later this year. Public sector workers will enjoy two-and-a-half months of long weekends as the emirate introduces a reduced schedule during the hot summer months. The 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative, launched by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, will start on Tuesday July 1 and run until Friday September 12 in the emirate. Workers at every government entity in Dubai will have a reduced schedule during the summer months as part of plans to enhance the work-life balance for employees. The summer working hours schedule follows a trial run last year, which saw employees at 21 government entities work less. It was found that 98 percent of people who participated in the trial experienced an increase in employee satisfaction and happiness. A four day week has been announced for Dubai government workers (Credit: Adobe Express) And assessments under the Dubai Government Excellence Programme found that the performance of participants had clearly improved. The 2025 summer schedule aims to strengthen family ties during the school holidays and improve overall well-being. Government entities will be split into two groups during the summer. One group will work for eight hours per day between Monday and Thursday before enjoying Friday as a full holiday. And the second group will work seven hours per day from Monday to Thursday and work for four-and-a-half hours on Friday. The new season is nearly here Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, says the initiative is the latest to place the wellbeing of people at the heart of it. He said: 'This initiative demonstrates our firm commitment to enhancing the government work environment, making it more adaptable and responsive to the needs of employees and the community. 'The implementation of this year's expanded edition, builds on the successful outcomes of the 2024 pilot phase. 'It reflects a comprehensive vision aimed at developing an advanced government system that balances institutional efficiency with human well-being. 'This supports Dubai's aspirations to lead in delivering flexible, sustainable, and people-centric government services.' And, while the four day week, only applies to Dubai's public sector, there have been encouraging signs that a reduced schedule and flexible hours could be introduced across the board. In November 2024, the RTA revealed that flexible hours and remote working could be a solution to Dubai's notorious traffic problems. And in January, a government white paper argued the case for remote working and a hybrid model to be introduced in the UAE. You might also like: UAE public holidays: Every long weekend to look forward to in 2025 The dates to know 22 pictures that show how much Dubai has changed from the 1950s to today Take a look at these unrecognisable photos of the city 112 best things to do in Dubai in 2025 Everything to tick off your Dubai bucket list
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Public sector workers in Dubai to get flexible working hours: What you need to know
Under the 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative, Dubai public sector staff can either take Fridays off or work reduced hours on Fridays, depending on their chosen schedule/ Image (File) Dubai has officially reintroduced its seasonal workplace initiative, 'Our Flexible Summer', offering government employees flexible working hours aimed at boosting productivity and enhancing work-life balance during the scorching summer period. The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) confirmed that the initiative will run from July 1 to September 12, 2025, and will apply across government entities at each department's discretion. This follows a successful pilot conducted in 2024. 'This is all about supporting a better work-life balance for our government teams,' the DGHR said in a public statement, highlighting the initiative's aim to make summer 'a little cooler' for public sector staff. Two Work Schedule Options Under the Initiative Under the temporary model, the standard five-day workweek remains in place, but employees can choose from two flexible scheduling options: Group 1: Work 8 hours per day from Monday to Thursday and take Friday off entirely. Group 2: Work 7 hours per day from Monday to Thursday, and 4.5 hours on Friday. The choice of implementation is left to each government department, allowing flexibility across different operations. The DGHR stated that the initiative 'comes after the successful trial run earlier this year' and is intended to increase employee happiness and overall productivity during the UAE's peak summer months. Results from the Previous Trial Phase The program isn't new. In 2024, the Dubai Government rolled out a similar model between August 12 and September 30 across 21 government entities. According to data analysed from that pilot, the initiative: Led to enhanced productivity Created more positive work environments Achieved a 98% satisfaction rate among participating employees, based on official evaluation systems The results confirmed that flexible working arrangements could have a measurable impact on both employee wellbeing and departmental performance. This year's expanded rollout reflects the government's confidence in the model's success. Longer Weekends and Broader Worker Welfare Measures Currently, most government employees in Dubai enjoy a two-and-a-half-day weekend, with a half-day on Friday, and full days on Saturday and Sunday. The new schedule will allow some staff to enjoy a full three-day weekend, depending on the group selected. In parallel, the UAE continues to implement additional summer workforce protections, particularly for outdoor and field-based workers. As of June 15, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) began enforcing the annual midday break, which bans work under direct sunlight from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM, daily until September 15. MoHRE inspectors have already begun site checks, with fines of Dh5,000 per worker for violations, up to a maximum of Dh50,000 in cases involving multiple breaches. In addition, the ministry has set up over 10,000 air-conditioned rest stations across the country to support delivery service workers, helping them cope with extreme heat during the peak season.
CairoScene
4 days ago
- Business
- CairoScene
Dubai Public Sector to Resume Four-Day Work Week This Summer
Running until September 30th, government employees will no longer work on Fridays or for more than seven hours per day. Jun 16, 2025 Dubai will resume its 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative in 2025, extending a pilot programme launched last year to shorten working hours for public sector employees during the summer. Running until September 30th, the initiative will reduce the government workweek to four days, with Fridays suspended and daily working hours capped at seven. Fifteen government entities are set to participate in the scheme once again, following positive feedback from the initial rollout in 2024. The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) will oversee implementation and assess the initiative's impact, collecting feedback to evaluate its feasibility for broader adoption. The programme is part of Dubai's broader efforts to enhance workplace flexibility, support employee wellbeing, and optimise productivity during the peak summer period.
What's On
4 days ago
- Business
- What's On
Flexible summer work hours initiative announced by Dubai Government
After a successful pilot test in 2024, Our Flexible Summer, Dubai Government's flexible work summer program will be implemented across all government entities. This was announced by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR). Set to roll out across all government entities, the initiative aligns with the Year of Community and is designed to promote a healthier work-life balance and will be running from July 1 to September 12, 2025. While the rollout has been made available for all, it will be implemented on the discretion of the specific entities. The specifics According to Dubai Media Office, employees will follow one of two flexible schedules in alignment with the official five-day work week. The first set will work eight hours daily from Monday to Thursday, receiving Friday off. Alternatively, the second group will work seven hours Monday to Thursday, and 4.5 hours on Friday. Why do we need this? The overall aim of the initiative is to promote a healthier life and overall wellbeing of the government workforce. Meant to enhance work-life balance, the program will foster a more supportive work environment, increase employee satisfaction and productivity, and also strengthen family ties, all important aspects of a healthy foundation for society. The results speak for themselves. Post the pilot phase, which was implemented across 21 government entities in 2024, the results showed enhanced productivity and improved work environments. The data showed an increase in employee satisfaction and happiness of up to 98%, while assessments under the Dubai Government Excellence Programme highlighted clear improvements in the performance of participating entities. Elsewhere in the world, remote working and flexible working policies have been piloted in many parts of the world, including several countries in Europe, with promising results. A survey conducted by CIPD UK in 2023 showed that of 83% of the organisations that have hybrid working, 38% reported increased productivity and 46% say employees are more productive at home or with hybrid work models. Economist Impact/Google's 2023 flexible work barometer, with 900 executives globally, showed that more than 90% of companies now offer flexibility in time or location. 82% of executives say productivity improved and 77% – 82% report benefits across wellbeing, innovation and financial performance. A 1,600-employee study published in Nature showed h ybrid work maintained productivity and promotion rates, while reducing turnover by 33%. @dubaimediaoffice Images: Getty > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Hi Dubai
5 days ago
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai to Implement ‘Our Flexible Summer' Initiative Across All Government Entities
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) has announced the rollout of the 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative across all Dubai Government entities from July 1 to September 12, 2025, following the success of its 2024 pilot. The program aims to enhance work-life balance, increase productivity, and strengthen family ties among government employees. The initiative's pilot phase involved 21 government entities and resulted in significant improvements. Employee satisfaction rose to 98%, while productivity and work environment quality saw measurable gains. Evaluations under the Dubai Government Excellence Programme also highlighted performance improvements within participating entities. Aligned with the 'Year of Community,' the expanded initiative allows each government entity to tailor the flexible work arrangements to their needs. Employees will be split into two groups: one working eight hours from Monday to Thursday with Friday off, and another working seven hours Monday to Thursday plus 4.5 hours on Friday, maintaining the official five-day workweek. Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, DGHR Director-General, emphasized the initiative's alignment with Dubai's strategic vision. 'Our Flexible Summer reflects our commitment to placing people at the center of government policies,' he said. 'It fosters a supportive work environment that balances institutional efficiency with employee well-being, advancing Dubai's goal of delivering flexible, sustainable, and people-focused government services.' The initiative is a clear move toward a modern government workplace that prioritizes flexibility and employee satisfaction while sustaining high institutional performance. News Source: Emirates News Agency
