The Dubai four-day workweek will return this summer with new flexible arrangements for government employees. The initiative will run from July 1 to September 12 and offers two scheduling options.
Group one will work eight hours daily from Monday to Thursday, enjoying a full day off on Friday. Group two will work seven hours from Monday to Thursday, followed by a half-day on Friday.
This decision follows last year’s successful pilot launched by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department. The pilot, titled Our Summer is Flexible, tested reduced working hours during the summer season under the Dubai four-day workweek concept.
Employees participated in a feedback survey after the trial. A majority of respondents supported proposals to shorten working hours in August and September.
Officials reviewed the results and concluded that the trial improved both morale and productivity. This paved the way for approving the model of a four-day workweek in Dubai to return for another summer.
Abdullah Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, praised the pilot’s impact. He said it significantly improved staff well-being while ensuring resource sustainability.
“This new model improves quality of life,” Al Falasi explained. He added that it strengthens Dubai’s global status as a city of choice for living and working, partly due to the innovative four-day workweek.
He added that better employee satisfaction translates into stronger institutional performance and long-term stability in public services.
The department noted that reduced working hours during peak summer months helped manage energy consumption. It also made commuting easier and allowed workers to balance their family and personal needs.
Moreover, the Dubai four-day workweek aligns with international trends in public sector modernization. Several global cities have already explored similar arrangements to attract talent and boost efficiency.
As temperatures rise, Dubai aims to protect the mental and physical health of government workers. The introduction of a four-day workweek is one way the city is leading innovation in workplace policy.
With overwhelming support from staff, the Dubai four-day workweek stands as a successful example of human-centered governance in action.
