The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has granted a three-day weekend to some government employees who work a maximum of 10 hours per day, four days per week.
The “compressed working week” is one of five working models announced under the Human Resources (HR) regulations for government employees in the UAE.
Cabinet Resolution No. 48 of 2023, which takes effect on July 1, establishes five working models for federal government personnel, as stated in the table below:
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| Working Model | Description |
| Office-based work | Employees perform their duties at the employer’s main office or designated branches and locations. |
| Remote work in UAE | Employees carry out their work from a location within the UAE that is outside the employer’s office, following the regulations outlined in the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the UAE Cabinet-approved Remote Work Law. |
| Remote work outside UAE | Employees are required to fulfill their job responsibilities from a location outside the country. |
| Hybrid work | This working model combines both office-based work and remote work, allowing employees to alternate between working from the employer’s office and working remotely. |
| Compressed working week | In specific circumstances, employees may work longer hours per day to complete the total required hours within a shorter span of working days. For UAE employees, this means working a maximum of 10 hours per day for four days. |
The new HR law aims to create flexible working patterns in order to improve government institutions. Employees working ten hours per day and four days per week under the “compressed working week,” according to Article 2 of HR law, will be allowed a three-day weekend.
