Following the endorsement of Dubai’s Traffic Flow Plan by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council, the emirate is implementing strategies aimed at improving traffic efficiency and facilitating mobility.
This plan seeks to strike a balance between business productivity and quality of life by promoting the adoption of flexible working hours and remote work policies across Dubai. Both public and private sectors are encouraged to embrace these practices to help alleviate traffic congestion.
Key findings on remote work
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Government Human Resources (DGHR) Department recently launched the findings of two surveys focused on remote work and flexible working hours. The first survey included responses from 644 companies employing over 320,000 individuals, while the second surveyed 12,000 private sector employees. The results indicate that 32 percent of private companies currently implement remote work policies, with an additional 58 percent expressing a willingness to broaden these options. Moreover, 31 percent of companies have adopted flexible working hours, with 66 percent of those not yet implementing such policies showing potential for expansion.
Impact of flexible hours on traffic
The study revealed that introducing flexible working hours—offering a two-hour window for starting work—and enabling remote work, allowing for four to five remote workdays each month for employees in both sectors, could decrease morning peak travel times across Dubai by 30 percent. For instance, if 20 percent of employees choose to work remotely, traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road could drop by 9.8 percent, and by 8.4 percent on Al Khail Road. Furthermore, just the implementation of flexible working hours could lead to a 5.7 percent reduction in traffic volumes on Sheikh Zayed Road and a 5 percent decrease on Al Khail Road.
Focus on study outcomes
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, commissioner general for the Infrastructure, Urban Planning, and Well-Being Pillar, convened a coordination meeting with His Excellency Abdulla Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR). The meeting focused on reviewing the study outcomes, which aim to motivate the private sector to adopt flexible working hours and remote work practices. This initiative aligns with Dubai’s leadership vision to become the world’s premier city for living, enhancing community well-being, happiness, and reducing traffic density. Achieving this objective involves ensuring smooth traffic flow and enabling residents and visitors to access their destinations safely and effortlessly.
Five core elements of the strategy
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer emphasized that transportation policies are integral to Dubai’s comprehensive roads and transport planning, which adheres to global best practices in advanced urban centers. He stated that the RTA employs a holistic and integrated strategy to meet the mobility and transport demands arising from Dubai’s urban and economic expansion. This approach is built upon five fundamental elements: developing and extending road networks and facilities; enhancing public transportation routes, infrastructure, services, shared mobility, and first and last-mile solutions; implementing policies to reduce or redistribute traffic demand across various roads and transport modes; advancing traffic control systems and centers; and ensuring the seamless integration of these components at all levels.
Goals of remote work policies
The RTA executes these five elements in a balanced fashion, prioritizing and scheduling implementation based on traffic demands and congestion levels along key traffic corridors. Remote work and flexible working hours are vital traffic demand management strategies designed to promote balance and integration within the transport system by reducing or redistributing demand across time and space while encouraging sustainable transport options. These strategies also encompass the expansion of truck movement restrictions, the addition of dedicated lanes for buses and taxis, and the provision of first and last-mile options to motivate residents and visitors to utilize public transport instead of private vehicles. Moreover, they facilitate public transport access for employees and promote carpooling, Al Tayer added.
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Commitment to employee well-being
His Excellency Abdulla Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi remarked that the DGHR is dedicated to enhancing the existing remote work framework and introducing tools, policies, and programs that prioritize employee happiness and well-being. This commitment aligns with Dubai’s vision of becoming the world’s leading city for both work and life, driven by leadership that emphasizes holistic human development.
Collaboration for innovation
The survey results provide valuable insights into Dubai’s innovative and flexible model as a leading hub for talent and expertise, reinforcing the emirate’s ongoing efforts to create a world-class work environment characterized by flexibility and efficiency. The findings highlight Dubai’s resilience to challenges and the collaboration between public and private sectors in establishing this model by adopting cutting-edge practices in flexible work systems, showcasing Dubai’s readiness for future transformations.
Adoption of remote work in government
Since its introduction in the Dubai Government in 2020, the remote work system has become a central part of the corporate culture in most government entities. Statistics reveal that 80 percent of these entities offer employees the option to work remotely two days a week. Additionally, 87 percent of Dubai Government employees feel that flexible working hours meet their personal needs, while 89.4 percent agree that these hours boost their productivity. The survey also indicates that 80.4 percent believe their productivity while working remotely is comparable to that in the office, with 90 percent reporting no issues with communication or connectivity with colleagues or managers.
Flexibility in work hours
Al Falasi commended the Dubai government entities that have adopted remote work and flexible working hours policies, noting that some companies allow employees to select several days per year for remote work. Furthermore, some government entities offer flexibility in work start times between 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM, enabling employees to stagger their commutes during peak morning and evening hours, thereby facilitating smoother arrivals and departures from the workplace.
The embrace of remote work and flexible hours in both the government and private sectors is crucial in fostering a supportive work environment that enhances employee comfort and security, ultimately improving quality of life and contributing positively to the overall well-being of the community.
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