Dubai reviews flexible work policies as new employee wellbeing initiatives take shape

The Dubai Government is set to review and update its flexible working policies as part of a broader strategy to improve employee wellbeing, strengthen financial resilience and enhance the overall workplace experience for public sector employees.

The new measures, announced by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR), include initiatives focused on workplace flexibility, financial wellbeing and the development of a government-wide employee wellbeing index.

The initiatives are based on an extensive study involving more than 1,500 employees from over 40 government entities and reflect Dubai's efforts to build a more flexible, sustainable and people-centric public sector.

As part of the programme, DGHR will review existing flexible work systems and update related policies and frameworks in line with international best practices.

The department said the initiative aims to create a better balance between organisational requirements and employees' expectations while improving productivity, strengthening institutional agility and ensuring business continuity.

Although the government has not outlined specific changes to working hours or remote work arrangements, the review signals a continued commitment to workplace flexibility across the public sector.

Alongside the flexible work review, DGHR will introduce the Dubai Government Employee Wellbeing Index in collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority. The index will be used to assess employee wellbeing levels, identify factors affecting wellbeing and provide government entities with data-driven insights to develop targeted programmes and policies.

A separate Financial Wellbeing Initiative will focus on improving employees' financial literacy and strengthening their ability to manage personal finances. The programme aims to promote financial stability and contribute to better quality of life among government employees.

The initiatives emerged from a comprehensive employee experience study that combined qualitative interviews, employee surveys, benchmarking exercises and collaborative workshops involving government specialists.

The research included interviews with representatives from nine government entities, surveys covering more than 1,500 employees and eight workshops attended by over 100 experts from across the public sector.

According to DGHR, the findings have led to the creation of a unified framework for enhancing the employee experience throughout every stage of the employment lifecycle.

The framework integrates organisational culture, leadership, human resources, technology and workplace systems to strengthen employee engagement while improving talent attraction and retention.

Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, said the employee experience enhancement project represents a strategic step towards advancing government human capital.

He said the initiative was built on a deeper understanding of employees' needs and aimed to translate employee feedback into practical policies that improve wellbeing, productivity and quality of life.

DGHR added that the project establishes a sustainable, data-driven approach to continuously improving employee experience and ensuring future workplace policies remain aligned with changing workforce expectations.