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Did someone say a four-day workweek in Dubai? Apparently, yes…
Starting today, the emirate is officially easing into a slower, more intentional rhythm, one that’s designed with balance and productivity in mind. The city has reintroduced its summer workweek format for government employees.
First piloted last year across 21 government entities, the initiative returns for 2025 with a wider rollout and a renewed focus on community, connection, and calm. Under the newly expanded framework, government workers will fall into one of two groups: one enjoying a sleek and shorter Monday-Thursday schedule with Fridays off, and the other opting for shorter days across the week with Friday as a half-day. It’s a shift that feels equal parts practical and deeply human.
Launched off the back of the UAE’s ‘Year of the Community’, this initiative is so much more than just cutting down working hours. Showcasing a commitment on the part of the government sector to improve the workplace, making it more responsive, flexible, and aligned with the needs of its employees. While allowing employees to reconnect with their families, navigate the summer with greater ease, but also to enhance productivity in the workplace.
With the school break in full swing and the temperature rising, the updated structure offers families more time together and commuters less stress on the roads, a nod to a small change that sparks a bigger cultural shift.
As for the private sector?
While this rollout doesn’t (yet) apply to non-government companies, it’s clear that the conversation around flexible hours and remote working is gaining traction. For now, this summer is set to be softer, at least for those clocking in under the Dubai government umbrella.
This move comes after Sharjah shifted to a four-day workweek in January 2022. Their employees reported an 88% increase in productivity and a 90% rise in job satisfaction. The move also left customers happier, with a service satisfaction rate of 94 per cent. These impressive statistics underscore the potential benefits of reduced work hours.
