Dubai is set to implement significant changes, including a pilot program for a four-day work week in government entities and new health regulations impacting work, residency exams, and driving licenses. These initiatives aim to enhance employee well-being, improve quality of life, and strengthen public health standards across the emirate.
Dubai Pioneers Four-Day Work Week
Dubai’s government is launching a pilot project, "Our Flexible Summer initiative," to test a four-day work week for select government entities. This initiative, running from August 12 to September 30, 2024, will reduce daily working hours to seven and eliminate work on Fridays. The goal is to foster a flexible work environment, improve employee work-life balance, and align with the ‘Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033’.
Key takeaways:
- The pilot project will run from August 12 to September 30, 2024.
- Participating government entities will work seven hours a day, four days a week.
- Fridays will be non-working days during the pilot.
- The initiative aims to enhance employee well-being and work-life balance.
Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the DGHR Department, emphasized that the initiative supports Dubai’s vision to empower human resources and uplift the city’s competitiveness. A survey conducted by DGHR revealed strong support for reduced summer working hours, indicating a positive reception among government entities.
New Health Regulations to Bolster Public Health
Effective July 2025, Dubai will introduce new health regulations under Law No. (5) of 2025 on Public Health. These regulations will significantly impact medical examinations for work and residency permits, as well as driving licenses. The law also outlines comprehensive measures to protect public health, including promoting healthy lifestyles, combating harmful behaviors, and providing integrated healthcare for various demographics.
Key aspects of the new health law:
- Medical Examinations: New standards for pre-employment, residency, and driving license medical tests.
- Youth Health: Focus on protecting the physical and mental health of adolescents and combating risky behaviors.
- Elderly Care: Provision of integrated healthcare for the elderly.
- Substance Abuse: Support for awareness campaigns against substance abuse.
- Family Health: Programs for maternal health, family planning, and child immunization.
Dubai Health Authority’s Expanded Role
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has been assigned 14 specific tasks under the new law. These responsibilities include setting policies for healthy lifestyles, overseeing medical screenings, and promoting public health education. The DHA will also be crucial in developing and enhancing regulations to ensure adequate healthcare, supporting medical research, and safeguarding patient rights.
Key responsibilities of DHA:
- Setting policies and standards for healthy lifestyles and public health education.
- Establishing regulations for medical examinations (employment, residency, driving licenses).
- Promoting physical and mental health for adolescents and adults.
- Combating harmful health behaviors.
- Protecting the health of the elderly.
- Supporting awareness campaigns on substance abuse.
- Educating the public on health risks and prevention.
- Developing and enhancing healthcare regulations.
- Supporting medical research.
- Establishing frameworks for patient rights and privacy.
- Implementing maternal health programs.
- Creating family planning programs.
- Overseeing child immunization programs.
- Establishing premarital screening programs.
The new public health law aims to mitigate health risks, raise community awareness, and foster individual and collective responsibility for health, ultimately making Dubai a more attractive city for residents and businesses.