UAE Approves New Remote Work System

The United Arab Emirates approved a new remote work system that allows federal entities to work from outside the country.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai and the current Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE, announced the new policy in a post on social media platform X.

The post read, “In government affairs, we approved a remote work system for federal entities from outside UAE. This aims to leverage global expertise for projects, studies, and specialized tasks, enhancing federal efficiency.”

The announcement was made as part of a larger post detailing the results of a Cabinet meeting, including a “National Investment Strategy” to be carried out over the next six years.

The UAE seems to be embracing workplace flexibility in order to attract global talent. Remote work has been allowed for UAE government workers for several years. However, this opens the door for skilled workers from outside the country.

The announcement comes at a time when some governments, and major companies, are either ending or limiting remote work.

Modern Workforce

Earlier this year, the UAE published a whitepaper signaling its support for remote work. In the paper, the country was described as “a haven for people who want to work from anywhere, enabled by a digital and legislative infrastructure unparalleled in its support for the modern workforce.”

The report ended by declaring, “The overall direction is clear: remote working is a much bigger opportunity than it is a threat. Governments need to consider how to effectively apply the proposed remote enabling framework to capitalise on this opportunity; reimagining a more productive and balanced employee culture, workforce and society that will thrive into the future.”

The United Arab Emirates already has a Digital Nomad Visa, which it launched in 2021. The visa only applies to individuals who work for companies located outside of the UAE.