In response to the UAE’s hottest months, the Dubai government has introduced Our Flexible Summer, a seasonal working initiative running from July 1 to September 12, 2025. The programme includes the option of a four-day work week and reduced summer hours for public sector employees. Following a successful trial in 2024, this initiative aims to enhance employee wellbeing, support work-life balance, and sustain productivity during the peak summer period.
The initiative follows similar developments across the UAE, including Sharjah’s permanent four-day workweek and ongoing discussions around the right to disconnect. Together, these changes signal a growing commitment to improving employee experience by employers operating in the region.
“Our Flexible Summer”: Dubai’s new summer schedule
The initiative will be implemented based on each entity's discretion. The new policy applies to 21 government entities and divides employees into two groups:
The first group will work standard 8 hour days from Monday to Thursday and have Fridays off.
The second group will work 7 hours from Monday to Thursday and a half hours on Friday. The initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader Year of Community campaign and is designed to allow workers more time with their families, especially during the school summer break.
This follows the Dubai Government Human Resources Department's push to modernise workplace policies in line with long-term strategies aimed at sustainable, human-centric government services. Officials noted significant improvements in employee morale and output during the 2024 trial period, and the expanded initiative is intended to build on that momentum.
While these flexible arrangements currently apply only to the public sector, the move is part of a growing conversation in the UAE around remote work and flexible scheduling.
Implications for Employers in Dubai
Although the Our Flexible Summer schedule does not directly apply to private sector employers, it signals a shift in public expectations around flexibility, remote work, and work-life balance in the region. Employers in Dubai and the wider UAE should take note of the direction being set by government entities. As flexible work models become more normalized, private companies may face growing pressure to offer comparable arrangements to remain competitive in attracting and retaining talent. Now is the time for HR teams to reassess internal policies and explore hybrid or condensed workweek options, particularly during high-temperature summer months.
This push toward flexibility is also taking place alongside broader legal reforms across the UAE and neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Both countries have introduced major updates to their labour laws in the past year, reshaping everything from dispute resolution processes to employee entitlements. For a closer look at these developments and what they mean for employers, see our detailed breakdown of recent labour law changes in the UAE and KSA.