DGHR Dubai offers flexible workweek and timings for all of summer – here’s why it matters

The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) has launched a special initiative for the summer months offering government employees the option of a flexible workweek. 

The authority announced, ‘The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) announced the rollout of the "Our Summer is Flexible" initiative across government entities in the Emirate of Dubai, based on each entity's discretion. This follows the remarkable success of the initiative's pilot implementation during the summer of 2024. The department will organize the initiative from July 1, 2025, until September 12, 2025.”

Under the initiative, the employees can choose between two schedules: 

• An eight-hour workday from Monday to Thursday with Friday off, or
• A seven-hour workday from Monday to Thursday and a 4.5-hour workday on Friday. 

The notification added, “..the implementation of the initiative will align with the official five-day working hours. Employees will be divided into two groups. The first group will work eight hours from Monday to Thursday and enjoy Friday as a full holiday, while the second group will work seven hours from Monday to Thursday and 4.5 hours on Friday.”

There is no change in the number of official working hours, just the implementation of a flexible schedule to help employees work more comfortably over the next three months, when temperatures can exceed 50°C.

The heat has already intensified, and current weather forecasts for Dubai are issuing red alert warnings for excessive heat, stating that "severe heat is expected in this area."

DGHR tried the four-day work week experiment for 15 government entities last year during August, allowing workers a workday of seven hours and Fridays off until September 30. It later shared the benefits of this experiment, including improved work-life balance and better productivity among the workers. The flexibility also increased work enthusiasm and engagement in the workplace.

This time, DGHR has given two flexible ways of working during the summer months, and employees can choose either depending on their work requirements and convenience.

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This is one way of improving the quality of life of UAE residents, and this initiative aligns well with the 'Year of Community' theme set by the Emirates for 2025.

The UAE is making all efforts to support employees during the summer months, especially outdoor workers, as the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) implemented a mid-day work ban, protecting outdoor workers from extreme heat during the day, and also installed over 10,000 AC rest stations for delivery service workers as the Emirates observes the mid-day break.