Starting July 1, Dubai’s government employees are working fewer hours and enjoying longer weekends as part of the city’s 2025 summer schedule reform. The revised work model, known as ‘Our Flexible Summer’, has now been applied across all government departments in Dubai and will remain in effect until 12 September.
This marks the second year of the initiative, first tested in 2024, and is part of a broader push to improve work-life balance for public sector staff during the most demanding months of the year.
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) announces the implementation of the ‘Our Flexible Summer’ initiative across all Dubai Government entities, following the success of its pilot phase in 2024. Aimed at enhancing work-life balance for government employees, the… pic.twitter.com/ORqI6PxhJ7
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 15, 2025
A Structured Approach to Summer Flexibility
This arrangement divides government staff into two main groups with varying schedules to ensure continuous service and provide more personal time.
- One group works from Monday to Thursday, completing an eight-hour day, with Fridays off entirely.
- The second group follows a seven-hour day from Monday to Thursday, and a half-day on Friday.
Both schedules provide a practical solution that supports employee wellbeing while maintaining operational efficiency.
A Response to a Successful Trial
The rollout follows a positive response from last year’s pilot, which included 21 government entities. That trial saw strong results across multiple markers—from employee satisfaction and happiness to measurable improvements in team productivity and the office environment.
Feedback from participating departments indicated that flexible working hours helped reduce stress, encouraged better time management, and contributed to higher engagement levels.
A Boost to Family Life and Community Engagement
This year’s edition aligns closely with the ‘Year of Community’, an ongoing national drive to enhance social bonds, especially among families. The initiative helps parents spend more meaningful time with their children during the summer months when schools are closed, while also easing the pressures of a full-time weekly schedule.
Officials believe that encouraging more personal time during the summer contributes to a stronger, more connected society, while also keeping morale high within public sector teams.
Leadership Speaks on a People-First Vision
The Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, highlighted the purpose behind the expanded rollout.
He stated that this approach reflects Dubai’s long-term strategy to make government institutions more adaptive to the evolving needs of employees and the wider community. He also noted that the initiative contributes to building a smarter, more flexible public sector that values human wellbeing as much as productivity.
This philosophy supports Dubai’s goal of shaping a modern government system—one that values performance while understanding the need for balance.
Will Private Sector Follow Suit?
Currently, the flexible summer schedule is exclusive to public sector entities, with no binding policy extended to private companies. However, the conversation around flexible work models continues to gain ground across the UAE.
Recent surveys have pointed out that remote work and staggered shifts could help manage road traffic and reduce stress during peak hours. In addition, a white paper released earlier this year suggested that flexible scheduling could benefit organisations of all sizes in both the private and public sectors.
Although no mandate has been introduced for private companies, there is growing interest in adopting similar models that allow for greater work-life alignment, especially during challenging seasons.
A Step Toward Smarter Government Culture
Dubai’s summer working hour model demonstrates that governance can innovate not only through technology and infrastructure, but also through the way people work and the policies that enhance their quality of life.
The four-day week trial, now an official summer practice, isn’t simply a shift in hours. It’s part of a wider transformation where public service delivery and employee happiness are no longer separate priorities.
For government employees, this new schedule is more than just a summer perk—it’s a shift in mindset that could shape future policies across the region.
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