Dubai has announced a trial four-day work week with shorter hours for government workers as part of a pilot initiative during the hot summer months.
Introducing the “Our Summer is Flexible” Initiative- Dubai
The “Our Summer is Flexible” initiative, announced by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department via UAE BARQ, aims to implement flexible working hours for government employees. The initiative will run for eight weeks, from Monday, August 12, to Monday, September 30. During this period, workers in 15 government entities will have shorter hours from Monday to Thursday, leading to more than a month of three-day weekends. Government workers will work seven hours per day for four days a week, with Fridays as an additional day off.
Promoting Work-Life Balance
Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, director-general of the DGHR Department, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating it aligns with efforts to nurture a flexible work environment that promotes work-life balance among government employees. He said:
We are thrilled to announce that DGHR will be launching the ‘Our Flexible Summer’ initiative, in line with our long-standing efforts to nurture a flexible work environment that promotes the work-life balance of government employees, in accordance with best international practices.
The initiative aims to enhance employees’ quality of life, promote sustainable government resource use, and position Dubai as an ideal city for a superior lifestyle. In preparation for the launch, DGHR conducted a survey to gauge the opinions of various government entities on reducing working hours during summer. The authority will regularly assess feedback to create a final report summarizing the initiative’s outcomes and recommendations.
Impact on the Private Sector and Weather Conditions
In the private sector, summer working hours are determined by each company, with some already implementing shorter hours. This approach differs from times of national emergency or public holidays when The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation sets working hours in advance.
Understanding UAE’s Summer Weather
The summer season in the UAE officially began on Friday, June 21, according to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Board Chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society and member of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy Sciences. The second half of summer, starting on August 11, will see a rise in humidity, consistently high temperatures, and the activation of moist Koi winds. These winds can lead to thunderstorms, particularly after encouraging the formation of cumulonimbus clouds over mountainous and neighboring areas, as recently seen in Al Ain.
In local folklore, the rising of the Suhail star marks the end of the intense summer heat and the beginning of more pleasant weather. As the summer continues, residents can look forward to the autumnal equinox, occurring on Monday, September 23, signaling the transition to cooler weather.
