Revealed: Emirati behind Dubai's 4-day summer workweek

Dubai: Thousands of government employees across Dubai are reaping the benefits of a more relaxed, flexible summer work schedule, all thanks to one Emirati man’s idea.

Dr Mohammed Suhail Al Muhairi, a Dubai government employee, has just been officially honoured by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) for coming up with the now widely implemented ‘Summer Working Hours’ initiative, better known to many as Dubai’s 4-day workweek during the summer.

The idea? Shorten the workday, cut out or cut down Fridays, and give employees room to breathe during the blistering summer months.

DGHR adopted the innovative proposal and transformed it into an official government decision under the ‘Our Flexible Summer’ initiative.

The pilot project trialled in 2024 with 15 government entities.

DGHR said it closely observed the initiative’s development, execution, and impact across all operational aspects, further enhancing the work environment and ensuring employee well-being.

During the pilot phase assessment, the Department revealed it received tangible positive outcomes, such as a notable increase in key performance indicators, including productivity, customer service, and employee satisfaction. It also resulted in an 87 per cent improvement in employees’ ability to complete tasks on time, a 96 per cent improvement in customer service with zero complaints and a 98 per cent improvement in employees’ happiness and enthusiasm in the workplace.

The results were hard to ignore. So, this year, Dubai’s ‘Our Flexible Summer’ initiative rolled out across all government departments.

Employees are allowed to either work eight hours from Monday to Thursday and enjoy Friday as a full holiday or work seven hours from Monday to Thursday and 4.5 hours on Friday.

After honouring Dr Al Muhairi, DGHR Director General Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi praised his contribution.

“This recognition is not just an acknowledgement of a single idea. At DGHR, we believe that it is a reaffirmation of our deep-rooted commitment to institutional innovation and our confidence in turning individual contributions into practical solutions that help achieve Dubai’s vision of a more resilient and prosperous future,” he said.

Appreciating creative talents within Dubai’s government work environment, he also underscored the Department’s progressive strategy to invest in human capital by nurturing talents and empowering them to contribute meaningfully to shape institutional policies that can transform and drive sustainable development across government entities.

“Dubai’s government entities remain committed to building a flexible work environment where talents are empowered to thrive and suggest innovative ideas.  With the right support, these ideas can be translated into effective success stories that make a difference in the lives of employees and the wider community, while shaping the future of the country’s public sector,” he added.