Khaberni - Reaffirming Dubai's approach to building a supportive work environment for productivity, sustainability, and future readiness, governmental entities in the emirate have started implementing the “Our Flexible Summer” initiative for 2026, launched by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department as part of its continuous efforts to create a more flexible, human-centered government work environment, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for government employees.
The initiative is being implemented from June 29 to September 10, 2026, through two flexible work-hour models, allowing government entities to balance employee needs and work requirements, while maintaining business continuity and the efficiency of the services provided to clients.
Under the initiative, the first group works seven hours a day from Monday to Thursday and four and a half hours on Friday, while the second group works eight hours daily from Monday to Thursday with Friday off. Government entities may apply flexible working hours or the remote work system in place, as appropriate to the nature of their operations and requirements.
The initiative reflects the Dubai Government Human Resources Department's approach in developing policies and programs that meet employees' needs based on their real experiences, contributing to the balance between work requirements and family responsibilities, while maintaining business continuity and the quality of government services.
The "Our Flexible Summer" initiative was launched in response to the needs of government employees during the summer months, which coincide with increased family obligations due to the school holiday season. By studying these needs and listening to employees' opinions, the Human Resources Department of Dubai developed a flexible work model that considers the needs of employees and families and ensures business continuity and the operational targets of government entities, embodying the department's approach to turning ideas and suggestions into practical work policies and practices that contribute to developing the government work environment and enhancing the government employee experience.
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department began piloting the initiative in the summer of 2024 before rolling it out across government entities in Dubai during the summer of 2025.
The "Our Flexible Summer" initiative confirms that improving the quality of life and enhancing employee wellbeing can be achieved while maintaining the highest levels of performance efficiency and quality of government services, in light of the Dubai government's commitment to developing more flexible business models that respond to the social needs of employees and families, and also support the ability of government entities to continue providing efficient and effective services.
In addition to its impact on the work environment, the initiative socially contributes to providing employees with more time with their families during the summer period, enhancing family bonds and supporting the quality of life and social cohesion, aligning with Dubai's orientations towards building a more connected and stable community, and enhancing the quality of life as one of the fundamental pillars of sustainable development.
Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, said: "The ‘Our Flexible Summer’ initiative has proven that quality of life and employee well-being are not in conflict with performance efficiency, but are enablers of institutional success and sustainability. Through this initiative, we continue to develop a more flexible, human-focused government work environment, enhancing the employee experience and preparing government entities for the future".
He added: "The initiative reflects Dubai's vision in building an inspiring governmental model that places the human at the heart of development processes and believes that investing in talents and quality of life is a fundamental cornerstone for enhancing productivity, innovation, and performance sustainability; it also embodies our commitment to continuing to develop more flexible and attractive government work environments capable of adapting to future changes, supporting Dubai's competitiveness, and cementing its status as a global destination for living and working.”
The initiative is part of the Dubai government's efforts to enhance job quality of life and establish a balance between professional, family, and social life, in line with the objectives of the “Year of the Family” and to reinforce the sustainability of institutional performance and the quality of government services.
The ongoing implementation of the "Our Flexible Summer" initiative reflects the commitment of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department to develop innovative policies and initiatives that respond to employee needs and enhance the government employee experience and quality of life, supporting Dubai's targets in building a more flexible and sustainable government work environment.
The initiative is part of an integrated system of policies and programs led by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department aimed at developing the government employee experience and preparing government work environments for the future. Through these efforts, the department continues to support Dubai's orientations towards building a more flexible and proactive government, and consolidating the emirate's position as a global model in developing human-centric government work.
