This initiative is about creating a smarter and more human approach to work
If the idea of longer weekends and shorter office hours sounds like a dream, you’ll love what Dubai has planned for the summer. Starting July 1 through September 12, many government employees in Dubai will be switching to a four-day work week — yes, really.
This isn’t just a one-time experiment either. It’s a comeback, and it’s based on solid feedback from employees who tried it out last year.
So, how does it work?
Government staff will be split into two groups:
Group one gets Monday to Thursday with regular 8-hour workdays, and then a full Friday off (hello, long weekends!).
Group two will have slightly shorter workdays — 7 hours Monday to Thursday — but they’ll put in a half-day on Friday.
Either way, the idea is to keep things light and flexible during the sweltering Dubai summer.
This initiative is part of a larger campaign called Our Summer is Flexible, rolled out by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department. After last year’s trial run, staff were surveyed, feedback was collected, and the verdict was clear: everyone loved it.
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Is Dubai following a global trend?
Absolutely. If you’ve been following the global workplace scene, you’ll know that Sharjah already made the four-day week permanent in 2022.
And the UAE federal government also shortened its week to four and a half days that same year.
Meanwhile, over in the UK, a major four-day workweek trial in 2022 involved 61 companies and nearly 3,000 employees.
The result? Overwhelmingly positive. None of the participants wanted to go back to five days. In fact, many companies saw lower stress levels, improved health, and happier teams overall.
So, it’s not just about taking Fridays off; it’s about creating a smarter, more human approach to work.
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