The Dubai Government is set to review its flexible working policies as part of a wider plan to improve employee wellbeing and the workplace experience across the public sector.
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) announced a series of initiatives covering workplace flexibility, financial wellbeing and employee experience.
The move follows a study involving more than 1,500 employees across over 40 government entities.
Dubai to update flexible working policies
As part of the new programme, DGHR will review existing flexible work systems and update related policies.
The department said the changes will consider international best practices. They will also aim to balance employee expectations with the operational needs of government entities.
The government has not yet announced specific changes to working hours or remote work arrangements.
However, the review highlights Dubai’s continued focus on workplace flexibility across the public sector.
DGHR said the programme aims to support productivity, improve institutional agility and strengthen business continuity.
New employee wellbeing index planned
Alongside the flexible work review, DGHR will introduce the Dubai Government Employee Wellbeing Index.
The department will develop the index in collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority. It will assess employee wellbeing across government entities and identify factors that affect employees’ experience at work.
The index will also provide data that government entities can use to design targeted wellbeing programmes and policies.
As a result, the government aims to take a more structured approach to measuring and improving employee wellbeing.
Financial wellbeing gets greater focus
The programme will also include a Financial Wellbeing Initiative for government employees.
The initiative will focus on financial literacy and personal money management. It aims to help employees build greater financial stability and improve their overall quality of life.
The move reflects a broader shift towards workplace wellbeing that covers more than physical and mental health.
Financial security can also affect employee satisfaction, engagement and productivity. Therefore, DGHR plans to include financial wellbeing within its wider employee experience strategy.
Study involved more than 1,500 employees
The initiatives follow a detailed employee experience study conducted across Dubai’s government sector.
The study included employee surveys, qualitative interviews, benchmarking exercises and workshops with government specialists.
DGHR said the research involved:
- More than 1,500 employees from over 40 government entities
- Interviews with representatives from nine government entities
- Eight workshops involving more than 100 public sector experts
- Employee feedback gathered through surveys and interviews
The findings have helped DGHR create a unified framework for improving the employee experience throughout the employment lifecycle.
Dubai links employee experience with talent retention
The new framework brings together organisational culture, leadership, human resources, technology and workplace systems.
It aims to improve employee engagement while supporting talent attraction and retention.
Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, said the project was a strategic step towards strengthening government human capital.
“The project is built on a deeper understanding of employees’ needs and translates their feedback into practical policies.”
Al Falasi said the approach would support improvements in employee wellbeing, productivity and quality of life.
Data to shape future workplace policies
DGHR said the programme will create a more sustainable and data-driven approach to employee experience.
The department will use employee feedback and wellbeing data to guide future workplace policies.
For Dubai’s public sector, the approach could also help government entities respond to changing workforce expectations while maintaining operational efficiency.
Overall, the initiatives underline the government’s focus on creating a more flexible and people-centric workplace.
