UAE tops GCC in remote work friendliness

 

The United Arab Emirates has been ranked as the most friendly country in the Gulf region for remote work. A new study showed that about 1 in 5 employees in GCC countries currently have flexible work arrangements where they can work from home some days. The UAE provides the most flexibility for remote working compared to other GCC states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. 

Many companies in the UAE are letting their staff work remotely 2-3 days per week. Startups and international companies tend to be more open to remote setups, while large local firms and government bodies usually require people to come to the office every day. Jobs in tech, marketing and advertising are most likely to be done remotely, while construction and manufacturing roles must be done on-site. 

Working from home can increase productivity for some people depending on their home environment and job type. Having a quiet separate workspace at home and not living with noisy roommates helps keep distractions low. Remote work also improves work-life balance and job satisfaction. Both employees and employers also benefit from lower office space costs when people work from different locations.

However, remote setups may not always boost productivity. Collaboration and teamwork can be harder if employees are not in the same place. Some companies also worry about security risks if sensitive work is done over internet connections outside the office. Employers must consider these factors depending on their business needs when deciding how much flexibility to provide to their remote workforce.