The UAE has consistently demonstrated leadership in innovation and possesses the ability to anticipate future trends impacting sustainable economic development. With the beginning of 2025, the nation, recognized for its supportive employment environment, is poised to adopt remote working as a practical approach to increase workforce productivity.
The UAE’s Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, on Tuesday, released a whitepaper on the best practices and future policies developed and implemented by the UAE government in activating the remote work system.
The paper, created in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), aims to enhance remote work systems by leveraging global trends and the expertise developed by the UAE government during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to design a future of flexible and hybrid work that relies on emerging technologies to shape advanced remote work systems.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications emphasised the importance of focusing on scientific research to drive sustainable development efforts in the government work system in general, and remote work in particular. He pointed out that the UAE government utilises research and studies to shape the future of work supported by technology and digital transformation, reflecting the vision of the leadership to enhance the UAE’s position in various future fields globally.
Further, Al Olama stated that the UAE seeks the sustainability of development and the advancement of future infrastructure, enhanced by artificial intelligence and digital technology solutions. This aims to improve the readiness of government work to anticipate and keep up with the rapid global changes and developments in the digital field, requiring the intensification of studies and the expansion of scientific research aimed at developing the best digital practices.
The whitepaper titled “Remote Working in the UAE” addressed the comprehensive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UAE, primarily focusing on the increased emphasis on collecting and analysing data related to non-traditional work methods. It also covered approaches to improving productivity and enhancing the community’s wellbeing, along with the remote work experience based on practical practices. Additionally, it discussed the outcomes of the remote work forum organised by the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office last year, which included proactive policies, methods adopted by the UAE, global policies, best practices, key challenges, and recommendations for developing policies in this field.
Remote work systems is increasing overall productivity by 4.6% after the pandemic, due to the reduction in commuting to and from work, as well as other positive rates and impacts of implementing remote work systems across various sectors, including skills, work environment, and more.
New Regulation
Various media outlets today widely quoted that the Registration Authority of ADGM, Abu Dhabi’s international financial center, recently published the new Employment Regulations 2024 which reflect global changes in workplace practices.
“We are pleased to announce the publication of the New Employment Regulations, which reflect our strong commitment to enhancing our ecosystem and ensuring the best regulatory frameworks and favorable conditions for both companies and employees alike,” stated Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADGM Registration Authority.
Repealing the existing Employment Regulations 2019, the new employment regulations will become effective on April 1, 2025, granting employers sufficient time to align their internal policies, employment contracts and other employment-related matters with the requirements provided under the new regulations.
Some of the key amendments ADGM made in the new employment regulations include amending the definition of ‘employee’ to enable employers to hire remote employees and allow for more flexible working arrangements.
The new regulations also clarify ambiguities related to employee entitlements, including part-time employees, and certain requirements regarding obtaining and canceling an employee’s work permit and visa.
The trend towards remote working is largely influenced by a global skills shortage, with many workers and companies favoring flexible work arrangements. The UAE government, recognizing the long-term value of remote work, has actively developed policies to support this modern work arrangement. However, as remote work eliminates geographical barriers, it also introduces significant cybersecurity challenges.
Cybersecurity Imperative as UAE Embraces Remote Work
With the transition to remote working, the vulnerability to cyber threats increases substantially. Research indicates that the Middle East faces higher cybersecurity breach costs compared to other regions, with averages reaching US$6.9 million per incident. This elevated risk underscores the importance of stringent cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information and maintain business operations. In response to these challenges, the UAE has proactively established a robust digital infrastructure, supported by comprehensive cybersecurity policies and practices.
To fortify its remote work framework against cyber threats, the UAE has implemented a series of cybersecurity measures. These include stringent protocols for home internet security, comprehensive bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, formal cybersecurity training for all employees, and the use of encrypted communication tools. Such measures are crucial for preventing unauthorized access and ensuring the privacy and integrity of corporate data.
Remote working introduces significant cybersecurity risks, particularly relevant in the Middle East where data breach costs are notably high. According to Proxyrack, the average cost of a data breach in this region is US$6.9 million, surpassed only by the US. As remote work increases, so does the potential financial impact of these breaches.
Accordingly, many national security agencies and cybersecurity specialists have evolved specific cybersecurity and privacy recommendations for organisations with employees who work remotely. For example, the cybersecurity specialist Kaspersky has issued a list of key security requirements for organisations using any form of remote working. They include developing a documented home security policy for securing home internet access and Wi-Fi, having a documented bring-your-own-device policy, providing formal cybersecurity training to employees, only using video-conferencing services with end-to-end encryption, updating password policies and using two-factor identification, and preferring centralised data storage.
The UAE is already rated highly against global peers for cybersecurity policy, ranked as fifth in the world for cybersecurity infrastructure in the latest Global Cybersecurity Index40 prepared by the International Telecommunications Union. In 2022, the UAE implemented an overarching legal framework41 designed to regulate online technologies including those used in remote working contexts. The UAE has also created a number of cybersecurity resources designed to provide practical assistance and advice for organisations and individuals using any technologies that may have cybersecurity or personal safety and privacy dimensions.
