Page 78 - DGHR PR REPORT JULY 2025

Revealed: Emirati behind Dubai's 4-day summer

workweek

DGHR says productivity soared under summer flexible hours and rewards the idea’s creator

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.

Huge jump in productivity

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.

Appreciating creative talents
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

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/human-resources/revealed-emirati-behind-dubai-s-4-day-
summer-workweek/ar-AA1Jn6hp?ocid=BingNewsSerp