UAE Introduces Remote Work System for Federal Employees

On 10 March 2025, the UAE announced a new remote work system enabling public sector employees to work from outside the country.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, shared the announcement on social media, highlighting the initiative’s implementation for government employees.

This system allows federal entities to operate remotely from abroad, aiming to attract global talent and enhance efficiency in executing key projects, research, and specialised tasks. The new remote work system reflects the government's ongoing efforts to promote more flexible working models, signaling a shift towards greater adaptability in the workplace.

As more organisations, both private and public, adopt remote and international work arrangements, managing cross-border employment, payroll, and compliance becomes increasingly important. While this initiative creates new opportunities for global talent engagement, it also presents challenges in ensuring that employees are paid seamlessly across different jurisdictions while adhering to local tax and labor laws.

Another key factor in remote work is the shift in working schedules. With teams spread across different time zones, aligning availability, project deadlines, and collaboration efforts becomes more complex.

This is where the right people management tool makes a difference:

• Pay anyone, anywhere – Process payments in multiple currencies with zero fees.
• Custom leave policies – Adapt to different countries’ regulations and cultural norms.
• Location-based schedules – Automate work hours based on employee time zones.
• Seamless compliance – Stay aligned with local tax and labor laws effortlessly.

Platforms like Cercli can help organisations navigate these challenges by ensuring that all team members are aware of varying working hours, national holidays, and scheduling overlaps. By streamlining payroll, tax obligations, and compliance while also facilitating better coordination across international teams, these solutions enable businesses and government entities to operate efficiently in a borderless work environment.

The UAE’s move towards remote work for federal employees is a step towards greater workplace adaptability. With the right infrastructure in place, this transition can unlock new efficiencies and make the country an even more attractive destination for top-tier global talent.