According to findings, 64% of employees in the UAE rate flexible working hours, provided by employers based on personal circumstances, as good or very good, which is particularly prevalent amongst Emirati respondents (83%).

The majority of employees overall (74%), also believe a remote and flexible work schedule increases their productivity, and 7 in 10 say they are given the opportunity to work remotely across the UAE today. Of those that do work remotely, 37% work most of the week outside the office.

When asked how they see the future workplace in the UAE, the highest proportion of HR professionals (54%), say there will be more flexibility in staff working hours. This is followed by embracing a more efficient workplace (52%) and better learning opportunities (51%).

UAE working professionals are satisfied with their employers for the availability of smart tools to increase their work productivity (57%), while 85% of HR professionals believe that technology-based tools offered to employees will expand in future, claiming that their organizations are open to adopting smart technologies in the workplace.

Commenting on the findings, YouGov’s research director Lara Al Barazi said, "It’s interesting to note the insights indicate a prominent trend towards an increasingly ‘remote workplace’, and as businesses continue to embrace technological advancements - this will only appreciate the convenience of flexible working hours and open up a world of possibilities for a workforce hungry for the perfect work/life balance."

“However, there’s no surprise that 40% of HR professionals also say hiring professional and technical staff has become increasingly competitive over the past 12 months. With 2 in 5 employees saying they look to change their job in the next 6 months, this only highlights how critical it is for businesses to listen to the needs of the next generation’s tech-savvy candidate base to win the fight for talent in the region”, she added.

Ibrahim Fikri, director of projects at FAHR commented further on the study saying, "The leadership of the UAE have long set a vision for driving smart initiatives within the government and public sectors. Findings from this study further support this vision by illustrating how smart technology can improve productivity and overall economic competitiveness in the country."

He noted that that YouGov will reveal the detailed results of the study at the International Conference on human Resources 2015, organized by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, in cooperation with Informa Middle East on 27 and 28 April in Dubai, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, adding that the aim is to help create a vision of the future workplace in the next five years, full insights from the study, which reveal future trends in HR policy, hiring, Expo 2020 impact, Emiratization and more.