Abu Dhabi Programme to Implement Parent-Friendly Workplace Place for Fathers

A growing initiative aimed at supporting fathers in balancing professional and family responsibilities is gaining momentum across the United Arab Emirates. The Parent-friendly Label programme, originally launched by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and extended throughout the Emirates in 2022, continues encouraging more fathers to prioritize family life alongside their careers.

Programme Structure and Progress

Businesses enrolled in the scheme receive either a Parent-friendly label or a Parent-friendly Plus label upon meeting specific criteria including flexible work hour policies and maternity leave periods of at least 90 days. An impact report released by the authority in November revealed that 74 per cent of fathers felt encouraged to take paternity leave by their employers under the programme.

The initiative has now supported more than 175,000 working parents across the UAE since its launch. As the country marks Father's Day this Sunday, programme officials note that while attitudes are shifting, additional barriers remain to be addressed.

Current Leave Entitlements and Challenges

Fathers in the UAE, both citizens and residents across public and private sectors, are entitled to five days of fully paid paternity leave. However, some working fathers continue facing expectations that professional commitments should take precedence over caregiving responsibilities. Even when parental leave or flexible working arrangements are available, many hesitate to use them due to concerns about workload, career progression, or workplace perceptions.

"Fatherhood in the UAE is no longer defined by provision alone," said Ali Aljneibi, Strategy Success Director at the ECA. "It is increasingly shaped by presence, participation and partnership in raising the next generation."

Corporate Leaders Embrace Change

Several organisations recognised through the Parent-friendly Label programme have gone beyond statutory requirements. Procter & Gamble and SLB provide eight weeks of paid paternity leave, while HSBC offers four weeks and Kraft Heinz provides three weeks alongside flexible working arrangements.

Zaigham Burney, head of food service for the GCC and South Africa at Kraft Heinz, described how fatherhood changed his approach to leadership. He emphasized focusing on output rather than optics, normalising school pickups and morning routines instead of treating them as apologies requiring justification.

Rashed Al Sadiq, chief human resources officer for the UAE and Gulf region at Procter & Gamble, noted that employees should not feel forced to choose between career success and family life. When designing policies and benefits, he said the focus should be on providing balance to help parents be present during meaningful moments with their families throughout different life stages.

Dany Rahal, UAE Managing Director at SLB, added that consistency in showing up matters more than saying the right things. Supporting working parents, he explained, involves fostering an environment where individuals do not feel compelled to choose between professional effectiveness and personal presence.

Expansion Plans

The programme is now expanding to include government entities through a pilot being conducted with the Ministry of Family, as part of the UAE's Year of the Family 2026. This expansion signals broader institutional commitment to reshaping workplace culture around family priorities, moving beyond policy questions to address work-life balance as fundamentally human concern.