Starting from July 1, 2023, the UAE government has introduced new work patterns for federal government employees with the aim of improving efficiency and flexibility. These changes require approval from the employing entity. One notable addition is the option for employees to work intensive hours, also known as a ‘compressed workweek.’ This allows them to complete their full weekly working hours in fewer days, working up to 10 hours per day for four days a week.
However, the Federal Authority For Government Human Resources (FAHR) has denied reports about changes to work hours for employees, clarifying that the compressed workweek is just one of the many available work types. Its implementation requires specific controls and approval from the relevant entity.
The new regulations also give employees the opportunity to request a change in their employment type, whether from part-time to full-time or vice versa. Part-time work is defined by a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 32 hours per week, with employees working between one and four days per week.
There are five distinct work patterns established for federal government employees, including on-site work, remote work within the country, remote work from outside the country, intensive working hours (compressed workweek), and hybrid work. These patterns offer various options to accommodate different job requirements and are subject to approval from the head of the respective entity.
The regulations also address different employment types, such as full-time, part-time, temporary, and flexible. Full-time employment refers to working the standard daily hours for a federal entity, while part-time involves working a specified number of hours or days.
Temporary employment entails working the full daily hours under a temporary contract for a specific project or task. Flexible employment allows for adjustments in working hours or workdays based on workload, economic factors, and operational requirements within the organization.
