With summer temperatures already nudging 45 °C in parts of the Emirates, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has re-activated its Occupational Heat Stress Prevention Policy for the 22nd consecutive year. From 15 June to 15 September 2026, all outdoor labour under direct sunlight is prohibited daily between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm. Historically aimed at construction and landscaping crews, the 2026 edition explicitly covers on-the-move ‘gig economy’ staff such as delivery riders.
For companies bringing foreign personnel into the Emirates to oversee these summer projects, securing the correct visas and work permits becomes just as critical as meeting health-and-safety benchmarks. VisaHQ’s dedicated UAE team simplifies this process end to end, guiding employers and individual travellers through eVisa, residency and labour-card requirements, and offering real-time status tracking—see https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ for details.
![UAE Re-imposes Midday Work Ban and Opens 12,000 Air-Conditioned Rest Stations for Delivery Riders]()
To make compliance realistic for couriers who cannot retreat to fixed sites, MoHRE—working with local governments, oil companies and the main e-commerce platforms—has established more than 12,000 air-conditioned rest pods nationwide. Riders can locate the nearest facility through a GPS-enabled smartphone map, refill water, charge devices and cool down before resuming routes after the 3:00 pm cut-off. Major operators Talabat, Deliveroo, Noon, Careem and Keeta have committed to sending automated in-app reminders and suspending order acceptance during the restricted window unless a rider opts-in and meets exemption criteria.
For multinational employers the midday ban is not merely a health directive—it is an immigration-compliance issue. Inspections are carried out using MoHRE’s AI-driven field-audit app, and companies found breaching the rules face fines up to AED 50,000, temporary suspension of work-permit issuance and, for repeat offences, a travel ban on senior managers. Over the last three years compliance rates have exceeded 99 per cent, reflecting how seriously authorities and the private sector treat worker welfare. Global mobility teams coordinating project sites must adjust rosters, transport schedules and overtime budgets. Facility managers should verify that shaded areas, hydration salts, first-aid kits and onsite thermometers meet MoHRE standards. Where technical exemptions apply—such as continuous asphalt laying—employers must obtain pre-approvals and log worker details in the ministry’s heat-stress portal.
The initiative underscores the UAE’s ambition to position itself as a safe, equitable destination for expatriate talent at every skill level. While the midday ban can add costs and scheduling complexity, most companies have integrated it into their summer operating models. Forward-planning—especially for logistics fleets that surged during the e-commerce boom—will keep deliveries running smoothly without jeopardising employee health or corporate compliance records.
For companies bringing foreign personnel into the Emirates to oversee these summer projects, securing the correct visas and work permits becomes just as critical as meeting health-and-safety benchmarks. VisaHQ’s dedicated UAE team simplifies this process end to end, guiding employers and individual travellers through eVisa, residency and labour-card requirements, and offering real-time status tracking—see https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ for details.
To make compliance realistic for couriers who cannot retreat to fixed sites, MoHRE—working with local governments, oil companies and the main e-commerce platforms—has established more than 12,000 air-conditioned rest pods nationwide. Riders can locate the nearest facility through a GPS-enabled smartphone map, refill water, charge devices and cool down before resuming routes after the 3:00 pm cut-off. Major operators Talabat, Deliveroo, Noon, Careem and Keeta have committed to sending automated in-app reminders and suspending order acceptance during the restricted window unless a rider opts-in and meets exemption criteria.
For multinational employers the midday ban is not merely a health directive—it is an immigration-compliance issue. Inspections are carried out using MoHRE’s AI-driven field-audit app, and companies found breaching the rules face fines up to AED 50,000, temporary suspension of work-permit issuance and, for repeat offences, a travel ban on senior managers. Over the last three years compliance rates have exceeded 99 per cent, reflecting how seriously authorities and the private sector treat worker welfare. Global mobility teams coordinating project sites must adjust rosters, transport schedules and overtime budgets. Facility managers should verify that shaded areas, hydration salts, first-aid kits and onsite thermometers meet MoHRE standards. Where technical exemptions apply—such as continuous asphalt laying—employers must obtain pre-approvals and log worker details in the ministry’s heat-stress portal.
The initiative underscores the UAE’s ambition to position itself as a safe, equitable destination for expatriate talent at every skill level. While the midday ban can add costs and scheduling complexity, most companies have integrated it into their summer operating models. Forward-planning—especially for logistics fleets that surged during the e-commerce boom—will keep deliveries running smoothly without jeopardising employee health or corporate compliance records.
