What happened? Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has approved a new part-time employment system for senior citizens, retirees and their spouses.
Who is affected? The programme will initially provide opportunities for 1,000 people, including retired residents and social-support beneficiaries who are still able to work.
Why does it matter? The scheme gives older residents a way to remain economically and socially active without taking on traditional full-time jobs.
- Location: Sharjah, UAE
- Authority: Sharjah Government
- Status: Approved and being implemented
- Who is affected: Senior citizens, retirees, spouses and eligible social-support beneficiaries
- Work format: Flexible part-time public-sector roles
- What’s next: The government will work towards placing 1,000 people under the new system
Sharjah has announced a new plan to bring retired people back into the workforce on a part-time basis, giving them more flexible ways to stay employed after retirement. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, approved the initiative as part of wider measures focused on improving quality of life and supporting families in the emirate.
The Sharjah retired people work scheme is designed for people who may still want to work but are not able or willing to take on a full-time role. The programme will offer shorter working hours and flexible schedules across government jobs.
Sharjah will offer flexible work to 1,000 people
According to the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, the new system will create part-time employment opportunities for 1,000 senior citizens, including retirees and their spouses.
The programme is designed around the idea that older people can continue contributing to the community without being expected to work a standard full-time schedule.
Under the approved arrangements, some employees could work for one or two hours a day, depending on their circumstances. Others could work three non-consecutive days a week, allowing rest days between shifts.
Employees may also be able to request specific working hours in certain cases.
The aim is to make employment more accessible to people whose age or personal circumstances make conventional working hours difficult.
What kind of jobs could retirees do?
The new system is not intended to place retirees into demanding full-time positions.
The Sharjah Government Media Bureau gave the example of checking visitor tickets at museums as one type of light-duty role that could suit participants.
This approach could allow experienced residents to remain connected to public life while taking on manageable responsibilities.
The scheme also extends to people receiving social assistance who are capable of working. Creating suitable part-time opportunities could help eligible beneficiaries earn additional income while remaining within a more flexible working structure.
For Sharjah, the policy is therefore about more than employment. It also encourages social participation and gives older residents another way to remain involved in their communities.
Sharjah retirement rules remain an important part of the picture
The announcement comes against the backdrop of Sharjah’s existing public-sector retirement rules.
Male government employees in Sharjah can retire at 55, or after completing 20 years of service. However, men who retire after 20 years of service before reaching the mandatory retirement age receive only a percentage of their pension until they reach the applicable age for full pension payments.
For women, the standard retirement age is 50. Women with children under 18 can retire earlier, at 45, according to reports on Sharjah’s retirement provisions.
The new part-time programme could therefore offer a route for eligible retirees who want to remain professionally active after leaving their full-time government positions.
The move comes with wider employment reforms
The part-time retirement initiative is part of a broader set of employment and financial measures announced by the Sharjah Government.
Sheikh Sultan has also instructed the government to recruit 1,200 Emiratis by the end of 2026.
The Sharjah Government Media Bureau said 1,800 Emiratis had already been hired between January 5 and September 3, 2026. The additional recruitment would help the government reach its target of 3,000 Emiratis employed in the Sharjah Government during 2026.
The emirate has also introduced measures to raise living standards for government employees.
A separate decision approved a AED20,000 monthly minimum wage for Sharjah Government employees, while additional financial support was announced for certain retirees.
The government has also approved higher pension payments for 1,470 Sharjah Government retirees, with the annual cost exceeding AED37 million.
Together, the measures point to a broader focus on household financial stability, employment and support for Sharjah’s government workforce.
For UAE residents, the initiative highlights a different approach to retirement: leaving full-time employment does not necessarily have to mean leaving the workforce completely.
Older residents who still want to work can potentially take on shorter assignments without returning to a conventional five-day schedule.
Families could also benefit where retired members are able to earn additional income while maintaining more time for personal responsibilities.
For Sharjah’s public sector, the scheme could also help retain the knowledge and experience of older residents in suitable roles.
The immediate focus is on implementing the system for 1,000 people, while the wider employment programme will continue with the target of recruiting 3,000 Emiratis into Sharjah Government positions during 2026.
FAQs
Can retired people in Sharjah return to government work?
Yes. Sharjah has approved a part-time employment system designed to give retirees, senior citizens and their spouses opportunities to return to suitable public-sector roles.
How many people will benefit from the new Sharjah scheme?
The Sharjah Government Media Bureau says the new part-time system will provide opportunities for 1,000 people.
How many days a week can participants work?
The approved system allows for flexible arrangements, including three non-consecutive working days per week. Some participants may instead work one or two hours a day, depending on their circumstances.
Can people receiving social assistance participate?
The initiative also creates employment opportunities for people receiving social assistance who are capable of working.
What is Sharjah’s retirement age for government employees?
Male public-sector employees generally retire at 55, while the standard retirement age for women is 50. Women with children under 18 may retire at 45 under the relevant provisions.
Sharjah’s new part-time employment programme gives retirees and other eligible residents a flexible way to remain active in the workforce. With shorter hours and lighter roles, the scheme aims to balance employment with age, family needs and quality of life.
The initiative is also part of wider measures by the Sharjah Government covering Emirati employment, salaries and retirement support.
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