Page 140 - DGHR PR REPORT - NOVEMBER 2024

Flexible working hours, remote work policies cut

morning peak travel time by 30% across Dubai

WAM
12th November 2024, 03:00 GMT+11

DUBAI, 11th November, 2024 (WAM) -- Following the approval of Dubai's Traffic Flow Plan by H.H.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime
Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council, Dubai is implementing
measures to enhance traffic efficiency and ease mobility.

The plan aims to balance business productivity and quality of life by expanding the application of
flexible working hours and remote work policies across the emirate.

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.

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