Remote Work is gaining traction in the Middle East.
- Remote work in the Middle East has been received positively by both employers and employees in recent years.
- Certain benefits that come from working from home ranging from reduced daily costs and improved work-life balance to improving employee morale and productivity have been noted in some studies.
- Remote work has been getting significant traction after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Forbes reports that the Middle East is experiencing a significant shift in attitudes towards remote work. This type of work has made a lasting impression and has brought about changes in the way people in the Middle East approach work. Hybrid models, which involve a combination of remote work and in-office work, are gaining popularity and momentum.
Both models have gained traction in the Middle East, reflecting a diversity of approaches to accommodate different preferences and business requirements. Remote work refers to working entirely from home or any other location outside the traditional office. The positive aspects of remote work include:
- Flexibility in working tasks that focus more on the outcome than the process.
- Improved life-work balance due to the workplace being the living place.
- Cost savings due to the reduced need for transportation fees and in purely remote work the complete lack in cost of workplace.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the widespread adoption of remote work, proving its feasibility and popularizing the concept of working from home in the Middle East. Despite a surge in demand for office space in regions like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, a hybrid work model is emerging, which offers more flexibility in high-traffic cities such as Dubai or Riyadh.
Hybrid work models have benefits such as team building, maintaining company culture and a change of pace due to the environmental change.
Michael Page released a survey on the Middle East that shows 81% of survey takers feel like they can do their job well from home, a significant change since the 2019 pandemic.
