Page 119 - DGHR PR REPORT - NOVEMBER 2024

11/12/24, 9:40 AM Flexible working hours, remote work policies cut morning peak travel time by 30% across Dubai
Both the public and private sectors are encouraged to adopt these practices to reduce traffic congestion.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Government Human Resources (DGHR)
Department announced the results of two surveys on remote working and flexible working hours.

The first survey covered 644 companies with over 320,000 employees, while the second surveyed
12,000 employees from the private sector.

Findings show that 32 percent of private companies currently implement remote work policies, with a
further 58 percent of companies expressing readiness to expand remote work.

Additionally, 31 percent of companies have implemented flexible work hours, with potential expansion
possible for 66 percent of those not currently applying the policy.

The study found that implementing flexible working hours, with a two-hour start window, and remote

work – allowing four to five remote workdays per month for employees in both public and private sectors
– can reduce morning peak travel time across Dubai by 30 percent. For example, if 20 percent of
employees work remotely, traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road could decrease by 9.8 percent and on Al Khail
Road by 8.4 percent. Additionally, flexible working hours alone could reduce traffic volumes by 5.7

percent on Sheikh Zayed Road and 5 percent on Al Khail Road.

Mattar Al Tayer, Commissioner General for the Infrastructure, Urban Planning, and Well-Being Pillar held
a coordination meeting with Abdulla Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director-General of the Dubai Government
Human Resources Department (DGHR).

The meeting reviewed the results of the study aimed at encouraging the private sector to adopt flexible

working hours and remote work policies. This initiative supports the Dubai leadership’s vision to become
the world’s best city to live in by fostering well-being, boosting community happiness, and reducing traffic
density. This goal can be achieved by ensuring smooth traffic flow and facilitating residents' and visitors’
safe and seamless access to their destinations.

Mattar Al Tayer highlighted that transport policies form a key component of Dubai’s integrated roads and

transport planning aligned with global best practices in advanced cities.

He said, “RTA relies on a comprehensive and integrated approach to address the mobility and transport
demands stemming from Dubai’s urban and economic growth. This strategy rests on five core elements:
developing and expanding road networks and facilities; enhancing public transport routes,

infrastructure, services, shared mobility and first and last-mile solutions; implementing policies and
procedures to reduce or redistribute traffic demand across roads and transport modes; advancing traffic
control systems and centres; and ensuring the integration of these elements at all levels.

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