Dubai Government has completed its Our Flexible Summer 2026 programme after more than 24,000 employees across 49 government entities took part. The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) said flexible start and finish times were the most widely used option, accounting for 54% of arrangements adopted during the programme.
Remote and hybrid working were also used where suitable, depending on the responsibilities of each government entity. The results are now expected to help shape future flexible working models across Dubai Government.
What is Dubai’s Our Flexible Summer initiative?
Our Flexible Summer is a Dubai Government workplace initiative designed to test and expand flexible working arrangements while maintaining productivity, service quality and business continuity.
The 2026 programme ran from June 29 to September 10. Government entities were able to apply different working models based on their operational needs.
These included a seven-hour working day from Monday to Thursday with 4.5 hours on Friday, as well as an eight-hour working day from Monday to Thursday with Friday off. Remote and hybrid working arrangements could also be applied where the nature of the job allowed them.
This means the programme did not introduce one fixed working pattern for every government employee. Individual entities continued to determine suitable arrangements based on their services and responsibilities.
What were the results of Dubai’s flexible working programme?
Flexible start and finish times were the most popular arrangement, representing 54% of the flexible working models adopted.
DGHR also reported strong compliance and awareness among participants. Around 99% of participating government entities said they had increased employee awareness of working mechanisms, communication protocols and service delivery requirements.
Meanwhile, 95% of employees benefiting from the initiative complied with the flexible arrangements approved by their respective entities.
The department said service-focused sectors were able to use flexible arrangements while maintaining readiness and continuity. Other workplaces focused on clear responsibilities, discipline, priority management and the ability of teams to adapt.
Did flexible working affect productivity and employee happiness?
Preliminary findings released during the 2026 programme indicated positive results.
DGHR reported that 98% of participating employees said they were happy, while 97% said productivity levels were maintained. A further 96% said government services continued at the same level of quality and efficiency.
These figures help explain why Dubai Government has continued developing flexible working models beyond the initial pilot phase.
The final results also give government entities more information about which arrangements work best for different types of jobs.
How has flexible work expanded across Dubai Government?
Dubai’s flexible working programme started as a pilot in 2024, involving 21 Dubai Government entities.
According to DGHR, the pilot produced positive results in productivity and workplace quality, with employee satisfaction and happiness reaching approximately 98%.
The initiative was then expanded across Dubai Government entities in 2025 and continued in 2026, growing to 49 participating entities and more than 24,000 employees this year.
The expansion reflects a wider move towards workplace models that give employees more flexibility while keeping performance and customer service at the centre.
Flexible work has also been used by Dubai Government outside the summer programme. During Ramadan 2025, for example, eligible government employees could benefit from flexible working hours and remote working arrangements, subject to job requirements and operational needs.
Does Dubai’s flexible working programme apply to private-sector employees?
No. Our Flexible Summer is a Dubai Government initiative, so the arrangements announced under the programme do not automatically apply to private-sector companies in Dubai.
Private-sector employees remain subject to their employment contracts and UAE labour regulations. Companies can offer remote, hybrid or flexible working arrangements, but these depend on the employer, role and agreed workplace policy.
This distinction is important for employees searching online for information about Dubai flexible working. The 2026 programme should not be interpreted as a new emirate-wide requirement for private companies to offer remote work.
At the federal government level, the UAE also recognises different work patterns, including remote and hybrid models, showing that flexible working is becoming a wider part of government workplace planning.
Why It Matters?
The latest figures give Dubai Government a clearer picture of how different flexible arrangements work in practice.
For employees, flexible start and finish times can make it easier to manage daily schedules while continuing to meet workplace responsibilities. Remote and hybrid models can also provide flexibility for roles that do not require employees to be physically present throughout the working day.
For government entities, the bigger focus is maintaining service quality. The 95% compliance figure and the reported continuity of government services show that flexibility is being linked with accountability rather than treated as a replacement for workplace responsibilities.
The results could also influence how Dubai Government approaches flexible work in future programmes.
What happens next for flexible working in Dubai?
DGHR said the 2026 results will help identify successful approaches and inform priorities for the next phase of flexible working across Dubai Government.
There is currently no official announcement that the 2026 arrangements will become a permanent, identical policy across all 49 entities.
Instead, the latest update points towards continued development of flexible models that can be adapted to different government workplaces and operational requirements.
FAQs
How many Dubai Government employees joined the flexible working programme?
More than 24,000 Dubai Government employees across 49 government entities participated in Our Flexible Summer 2026.
What was the most popular flexible working arrangement?
Flexible start and finish times were the most widely adopted arrangement, accounting for 54% of the working models used during the 2026 programme.
Did Dubai’s flexible programme include remote work?
Yes. Remote and hybrid working arrangements were among the options used by participating government entities, depending on operational requirements and the nature of employees’ roles.
Is Dubai’s flexible working policy available to private-sector employees?
The Our Flexible Summer programme applies to Dubai Government employees. Private-sector workers can have flexible or remote arrangements if their employer offers them under applicable workplace policies and UAE labour regulations.
Will Dubai continue flexible working after summer 2026?
DGHR said the 2026 results will inform the next phase of flexible working across Dubai Government. However, no single permanent arrangement for all government entities has been announced.
Dubai’s Our Flexible Summer 2026 programme shows how flexible working is being tested at scale across the government sector. With more than 24,000 employees involved across 49 entities, the latest results give DGHR practical data to shape future workplace models while keeping productivity, accountability and public services in focus.
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