The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has confirmed that its Mid-Day Work Ban—now in its 22nd year—will run from 15 June to 15 September 2026, prohibiting outdoor work between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm. Although framed as a health-and-safety measure, the ban has direct mobility implications: construction, logistics and oil-field contractors must adjust shift schedules for thousands of expatriate workers and may have to request emergency-works exemptions for critical path tasks such as concrete pours. Companies found in breach face fines up to AED 50,000 and possible work-permit suspensions—penalties that could delay project timelines and visa renewals. MoHRE inspectors will use GPS-tagged smart devices and satellite heat maps to target inspections, and the public can report violations via a hotline and mobile app. Employers must also provide shaded rest areas, hydration stations and first-aid supplies. Global-mobility teams should ensure that any newly arrived assignees—especially site managers unfamiliar with Gulf summers—receive heat-stress training during on-boarding. With compliance rates above 99 % in recent years, the ban has become a fixture of the UAE’s labour calendar, influencing everything from project-planning software templates to the validity windows of short-term mission visas for specialist technicians.
Source: Dubai One
