MoHRE confirmed that its heat-stress prevention policy—prohibiting outdoor work between 12:30 pm and 3 pm from 15 June to 15 September—has concluded for 2026 after recording 99 % compliance across 12,000 shaded rest stations. The end of the ban allows construction and logistics firms to revert to full-day shifts, but employers must continue to provide hydration breaks and first-aid kits under Federal Decree-Law 33. Non-compliance fines (AED 5,000 per worker, capped at AED 50,000) remain in force year-round for failure to protect labourers from extreme weather. Mobility teams managing blue-collar visas should note that the policy affects project timelines and overtime budgets; schedule buffers built into summer work permits can now be adjusted. Companies should also update employee-handbooks to reflect that the 2027 midday ban will start on 15 June. Separately, MoHRE hinted at a forthcoming smart-helmet pilot that will transmit real-time body-temperature data to site supervisors, indicating that tech-based compliance monitoring could become mandatory by 2028.
Source: Khaleej Times
