Acting on directives from Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan, Dubai’s government entities will operate remotely on Friday, 19 December, after meteorologists predicted heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas. Only critical on-site staff—such as emergency responders—are exempt.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has encouraged private-sector employers to follow suit where feasible, spotlighting employee safety obligations under UAE labour law. The move mirrors earlier weather-related remote-work shifts that proved successful in keeping city services running while reducing road accidents.
![Dubai Government orders remote work on 19 December to cut commuting risk]()
Companies looking for flexible support with rescheduling immigration milestones can leverage VisaHQ’s online platform, which provides real-time updates and end-to-end handling of UAE entry permits and residence visas. By visiting https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ HR teams can arrange courier collection of passports, digital document uploads and alternative stamping dates, ensuring compliance even when government counters close unexpectedly.
For mobility managers the decree means scheduled document signing, medical checks or visa-stamping appointments at Dubai service centres will be deferred, potentially delaying onboarding of new assignees. HR teams should reschedule appointments and ensure digital notarisation tools are in place.
The decision also reinforces Dubai’s positioning as a ‘cloud government’, capable of sustaining operations during environmental disruptions—an attractive factor for multinationals weighing regional headquarters locations.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has encouraged private-sector employers to follow suit where feasible, spotlighting employee safety obligations under UAE labour law. The move mirrors earlier weather-related remote-work shifts that proved successful in keeping city services running while reducing road accidents.
Companies looking for flexible support with rescheduling immigration milestones can leverage VisaHQ’s online platform, which provides real-time updates and end-to-end handling of UAE entry permits and residence visas. By visiting https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ HR teams can arrange courier collection of passports, digital document uploads and alternative stamping dates, ensuring compliance even when government counters close unexpectedly.
For mobility managers the decree means scheduled document signing, medical checks or visa-stamping appointments at Dubai service centres will be deferred, potentially delaying onboarding of new assignees. HR teams should reschedule appointments and ensure digital notarisation tools are in place.
The decision also reinforces Dubai’s positioning as a ‘cloud government’, capable of sustaining operations during environmental disruptions—an attractive factor for multinationals weighing regional headquarters locations.
