Unveiling the MDPI Study: Long Hours and UAE Quality of Life

The latest research published in MDPI's Social Sciences journal dives deep into how average working hours shape quality of life across 62 countries, spotlighting nations like the United Arab Emirates where labor-intensive cultures prevail. Titled "Exploring the Link Between Working Hours and Quality of Life: Cross-Country Evidence from 62 Countries," this 2026 study reveals a clear inverse relationship: longer hours correlate with diminished well-being, measured via the Human Development Index (HDI), a composite of life expectancy, education, and per capita income. Drawing from panel data spanning 2001 to 2019, sourced from Penn World Tables and World Development Indicators, the analysis employs fixed-effects models to control for country-specific factors, confirming that a one percent drop in average working hours boosts HDI by 0.077 percent in developing economies like the UAE.

This finding resonates strongly in the UAE, where residents log some of the world's longest workweeks, averaging 48.4 hours—topping global charts ahead of Pakistan and India. Despite capping standard shifts at 48 hours weekly under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, overtime pushes many beyond this, fostering work-life imbalances that erode personal fulfillment, family time, and health.

UAE's Work Culture: A Global Leader in Hours Logged

The UAE's dynamic economy demands dedication, with employees clocking around 2,080 annual hours, far exceeding OECD averages of 1,752. Sectors like construction, hospitality, and even education see routine extensions, driven by expatriate-heavy workforces and ambitious national visions like UAE Centennial 2071. Labor Ministry data underscores this: over 40 percent of Middle East professionals add extra daily hours amid hiring slowdowns, amplifying fatigue.

In higher education, UAE faculty juggle teaching loads—often 12-16 contact hours weekly—plus research mandates, administrative duties, and grant pursuits. Qualitative studies highlight overload for women administrators, where family demands compound professional pressures, leading to heightened stress and turnover risks. Yet, UAE's high happiness rankings (26th globally in 2025 World Happiness Report) suggest compensatory factors like safety, income, and social support mitigate some downsides.

Key Findings: How Hours Hurt HDI in Developing Nations

The study's econometric rigor shines through fixed-effects regressions and robustness checks via FGLS and IV-2SLS, isolating AVH's causal drag on HDI. In developing cohorts (41 countries including UAE), the coefficient β₁ = -0.077 (p<0.001) signals robust negativity; developed peers show insignificance due to shorter shifts. Quotes like "Long AVHs generally cause work–life imbalance, dissatisfaction, physical immobility, and stress" encapsulate the mechanism.

• AVH fell 5.58% in developing countries (2001-2019), yet remain elevated vs. developed (3% drop).
• HDI rose 16%+ in developing nations, but AVH curbs fuller gains.
• Controls like human capital (β=0.108), electricity access (β=0.061), and internet penetration (β=0.019) propel QOL positively.

For UAE academics eyeing higher ed jobs, this implies prioritizing institutions with balanced workloads to sustain long-term productivity.

UAE Labor Laws: Safeguards Amid High Demands

Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021 standardizes protections: 8 hours daily/48 weekly max, overtime at 125-150% pay, and Ramadan reductions (2 hours less daily).UAE Government Portal Recent 2026 tweaks emphasize flexible models—part-time, remote—aligning with Vision 2031's human-centric focus. Public sector exemplifies: Monday-Thursday 9am-2:30pm during Ramadan, Fridays shortened for prayer.

Higher ed benefits via hybrid teaching post-COVID, yet faculty report persistent overload from KPIs like publications. Explore career advice for negotiating balanced contracts in UAE unis.

Health and Productivity Toll: Beyond the Numbers

Extended shifts spike UAE stroke risks and chronic stress, per Cigna surveys (22% deem workloads unmanageable). MDPI links this to immobility and dissatisfaction, eroding HDI components like health expectancy. In academia, burnout manifests as reduced research output—critical for UAE's R&D push targeting 5% GDP by 2031.

Real-world cases: Abu Dhabi QoL surveys (2019/20) show 22.2% at 41-45 hours, many overtime. Expat faculty, 80%+ of UAE higher ed, face visa pressures intensifying hours. Solutions? Wellness programs like Pure Health's 90-day interventions yield metabolic gains, hinting at scalable fixes.

Higher Education Spotlight: Faculty Workloads in UAE Unis

UAE universities like UAEU, Khalifa, and NYU Abu Dhabi demand multifaceted roles: lecturing, supervising theses, publishing in Q1 journals, and committee service. Studies reveal WLB challenges for women in admin, with family spilling into work. Average faculty hours? Often 50+, blending teaching (12-16h), prep/research (20h+), mirroring national trends.

Stakeholders advocate flexible scheduling; e.g., 4-day weeks in pilots boost retention. Check UAE academic jobs for balanced opportunities at leading institutions.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Voices from UAE Workplaces

Employers tout competitiveness; MoHRE's 2026 Observatory highlights 52.6h averages fueling growth. Unions/labor advocates push caps enforcement. Academics via forums note grant pressures exacerbate hours. Experts recommend phased reductions, emulating Iceland's 35-36h successes.

Multi-perspective: Expats value pay (AED 20k+/month professors), locals prioritize Emiratisation with WLB perks.

Policy Reforms and Future Outlook

2026 sees Ramadan flex, remote Fridays (70% public sector). Broader: hybrid mandates, AI admin tools easing loads. Projections: AVH dips with automation, boosting HDI toward top-10 globally. Higher ed eyes sabbaticals, mental health hubs.

Actionable: Employers audit hours; faculty seek lecturer paths with boundaries.

Practical Insights: Enhancing QOL in UAE Careers

• Prioritize flexible roles via remote higher ed jobs.
• Leverage wellness: track hours, mindfulness apps.
• Advocate: unionize for 40h norms.
• Research: monitor HDI gains from reforms.

For thriving in UAE academia, balance is key—explore Rate My Professor for workload intel.

Photo by Noble Mitchell on Unsplash

Conclusion: Toward Balanced Prosperity

MDPI's insights urge UAE to trim hours for QOL leaps, vital for sustainable growth. Higher ed leads by modeling WLB, attracting global talent. Ready for UAE opportunities? Visit higher-ed-jobs, university-jobs, higher-ed-career-advice, rate-my-professor, and post-a-job today.