The 4-Day Work Week Trial: How UAE Government Employees Are Actually Finding It

The traditional five-day work week is being challenged across the UAE, and the results are turning heads. From Dubai's summer flexibility initiative to Sharjah's permanent three-day weekend, government employees across the Emirates are experiencing a workplace transformation that's reshaping work-life balance. But beyond the headlines, how are UAE workers actually finding the shorter week? The data—and the personal stories—paint a compelling picture.

Dubai's "Our Flexible Summer" Initiative

Dubai launched its second annual summer flexibility program on July 1, 2025, running through September 12. Building on the success of last year's pilot, which initially involved 21 government entities, the initiative offers government employees two distinct schedule options:​

Group One works eight hours Monday through Thursday with Fridays completely off, totaling 32 working hours per week. Group Two works seven hours Monday through Thursday plus a 4.5-hour Friday, totaling 32.5 weekly hours.​

Despite the reduced hours—significantly below the UAE Labour Law maximum of 48 hours per week—employees maintain full compensation. This positions Dubai among the first major global cities to introduce a government-wide four-day work week at scale.​

The Satisfaction Numbers Are Staggering

Last year's pilot delivered remarkable results: a 98% increase in overall employee satisfaction. That's not a typo—nearly universal approval among participating workers. Employees reported improvements across multiple dimensions: enhanced productivity, better well-being, improved work environments, and greater happiness.​

Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of Dubai Government Human Resources Department, emphasized the initiative's success: "This initiative demonstrates our firm commitment to enhancing the government work environment, making it more adaptable and responsive to the needs of employees and the community".​

The program aligns with the UAE's "Year of Community," specifically designed to support family life and personal well-being during the summer school break when children are home.​

Sharjah: The Three-Day Weekend Pioneer

While Dubai's program is seasonal, Sharjah took the bold step of implementing a permanent four-day work week (Monday to Thursday) for public sector employees back in 2022. The results have been nothing short of transformative.​

Research conducted by Sharjah's Department of Statistics and Community Development revealed extraordinary improvements:​

• 90% increase in job satisfaction​

• 87% improvement in mental health​

• 86% boost in productivity​

These aren't marginal gains—they represent fundamental shifts in how employees experience work. The study also found significant societal benefits: traffic accidents and deaths decreased by up to 40% compared to the previous year, while environmental data showed decreased emissions of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide during the new work system implementation.​

Financial performance improved as well, with government agencies seeing better expense management, revenue generation, and overall fiscal health.​

Real Employee Experiences

The statistics come alive in personal testimonials. Mariam, a Dubai government employee, shared her experience from last year's trial: "It was very beneficial for me as my children were home from school too". The ability to spend meaningful time with family during summer break transformed what had been a stressful juggling act into quality bonding time.​

Syrian expat Nidal Saleem, who works in Sharjah and has enjoyed three-day weekends for over a year, emphasized the family impact: "My daughter works in Dubai, and I used to meet her only once every week. But since the weekend changed last year, we have been gifted two days, which we use on road trips, dinners, and leisure time".​

Retired Brig Ali Al Sayed Ibrahim noted that while the change didn't dramatically impact productivity, "for family time, it surely has surged".​

Private Sector Success Stories

The trend isn't limited to government. Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, founder and CEO of TishTash Communications, implemented a 4.5-day work week for her entire company five years ago—and hasn't looked back.​

"Five years on, we maintain the shorter working week for our whole company, as well as offering even greater flexibility," she explained. "We have continued because it works, and our business has not suffered. In fact, it has grown and flourished and had some of its best years in business. We have seen that a happy and balanced team clearly has a positive impact on business performance and success too".​

She emphasized that clients respect the working pattern and support it, with the team remaining flexible when Friday meetings, events, or shoots are necessary.​

The Broader Research Context

UAE-specific research supports these anecdotal successes. A PRCA MENA and 3Gem Research & Insights study of 1,000 UAE professionals found that 70% feel they work more efficiently within a 4.5-day working week. An overwhelming 91% believed the shorter week would positively impact employees' mental wellbeing.​

"The evidence is clear that a shorter working week has so far had a positive effect. People are working more efficiently and it's proving to have a positive effect on their mental well-being," noted Darren Ryan, Global Creative Director at 3Gem Research & Insights.​

Najla Najm, Career Practice Leader for the Middle East at Mercer, cited research showing that employees report higher productivity, less stress, and improved work-life balance after implementing a four-day week.​

Challenges and Adaptations

Not everyone finds the transition seamless. Professor Fiona Robson from Heriot-Watt University Dubai cautions that maintaining productivity and employee well-being requires careful planning. Potential impacts on part-time staff and the need for clear communication during implementation present genuine challenges.​

Nina Pacic, a people business partner at Sovereign PRO Partner Group, notes that not all industries benefit equally. Sectors like tourism and finance that rely on global market activity may face operational difficulties with shortened weeks.​

For private sector businesses still operating on traditional schedules, adapting workflows, renegotiating client expectations, and ensuring operational continuity requires thoughtful strategy.​

Will It Become Permanent?

Despite the overwhelming positive results, Dubai's government hasn't committed to making the four-day week permanent—the current initiative remains a summer-only program. However, the consistently strong data may eventually tip the scales.​

Mursaleen Khawaja, director of Dubai-based recruiting firm Madison Pearl, predicts gradual adoption: "Dubai historically leads these changes, and others follow". He emphasizes that flexibility is a top priority for job seekers today, making shorter workweeks a powerful recruitment tool.​

Khurram Shehzad, Director of Saudi-based business services company PROVEN, believes a shorter workweek can boost Dubai's global competitiveness, enhance employee well-being, and stimulate the economy. He even predicts Saudi Arabia could adopt a similar model in the future.​

The Global Context

The UAE's experimentation positions it within a broader global movement. Countries including Iceland, Spain, Japan, Portugal, and the UK have conducted trials with promising results. Portugal's trial reported that 95% of participating companies evaluated it positively, with revenue staying the same or increasing while employee anxiety decreased by 21%, fatigue by 23%, and work exhaustion by 19%.​

The UAE's unique contribution is implementing these changes at a government level, demonstrating that public sector efficiency can coexist with employee well-being.​

Looking Ahead

The evidence from Dubai and Sharjah suggests the four-day work week isn't just viable—it's potentially transformative. The combination of improved employee satisfaction, maintained or enhanced productivity, better mental health outcomes, reduced traffic accidents, and environmental benefits creates a compelling case for broader adoption.​

While challenges remain, particularly for the private sector and certain industries, the UAE is demonstrating that work-life balance isn't a zero-sum game. Employees can be happier, healthier, and more productive when given the time to recharge, spend with family, and pursue personal interests.

As AI and automation continue reshaping the workplace, shorter workweeks may shift from experimental to standard. The UAE's bold initiatives are providing real-world data that could influence workplace policies not just regionally, but globally.​

For now, government employees enjoying their three-day weekends are living proof that sometimes less really is more—fewer working days, greater satisfaction, and a fundamentally better quality of life. That's a formula worth exploring further.