When Indian expat Sadia Anwar started her first job in the construction industry, she was required to work 12-14 hours daily.
“It felt like a glorified lifestyle,” she said. “It didn’t matter what I was doing. Even during Ramadan, I had to work long hours. I lived in Ajman with my parents, but my office was in Dubai. Some days, I’d drive to Ajman for iftar, then return to work on tasks that weren’t even important.”
Work Culture in the UAE
A recent study revealed that 50% of UAE employees feel pressured to work extra hours, while 45% believe their workload can be completed in a regular workweek. The survey, part of the ‘Halian’s 2025 GCC Market Report and Salary Guide,’ covered over 2,700 professionals in industries like technology, finance, healthcare, and construction.
Sadia shared how unsustainable work habits impacted her corporate life. “I stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish presentations and then returned to work by 9 a.m. It became too much when I got pregnant, and I eventually quit because balancing work and life was impossible.”
Health Impacts of Long Work Hours
The report highlighted that 45% of professionals experience negative health effects from their workload. Long working hours can cause chronic health issues like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, emotional exhaustion, and anxiety.
Dr. Yasir Shafi, a homeopathy doctor at Wellth, explained, “We see patients struggling with stress, prolonged working hours, and task overload. This leads to both physical and mental health issues, reducing productivity over time.”
The stress of such work cultures is also pushing employees to look for better opportunities, with 85% of respondents planning to change jobs in the next year.
Toxic Work Culture and Work-Life Balance
A social media and marketing CEO admitted her team works long hours. “We have flexibility to work from home, but the team can’t disconnect. Late-night requests often have us scrambling to meet deadlines. I feel guilty for contributing to this toxic work culture, but without constant availability, we’d lose clients.”
The study found that 35% of UAE employees rate their work-life balance as fair, but many want more flexibility. Dr. Yasir warned that poor work-life balance is harming families. “People are coming home late, missing quality family time, and not sleeping or eating properly. This cycle creates a bad mental state.”
Optimism for the Future
Despite these challenges, 41% of UAE employees are confident about future job opportunities. Many are pursuing additional education and certifications to stay competitive in the evolving job market.
Other findings include:
- 40% of GCC professionals saw a salary increase of 5-10% this year.
- Of these increases, 49% were performance-based, while 15% came from job changes.
- 37% of employees are optimistic about promotions within their organizations.
- Key benefits employees want include medical insurance (80%), air tickets (55%), and flexible work options (41%).
Better compensation, benefits, and career growth remain the top reasons employees in the Gulf region are switching jobs.
