Riyadh Launches Flexible Working Hours Initiative to Reduce Traffic Congestion, Enhance Productivity
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, has launched a flexible working hours initiative across six major business districts in the capital as part of broader efforts to improve mobility, ease traffic congestion, and enhance quality of life.
KAFD
The initiative, which came into effect on June 2, covers more than 50 organizations operating in six key business zones: King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Digital City, the Diplomatic Quarter, Laysen Valley, Granada Business District, and ROSHN Front. It expands the flexible working window to four hours, allowing employees to stagger their arrival and departure times and helping reduce traffic pressure during peak periods.
According to a joint statement issued by the two entities, the initiative is expected to provide employees with greater flexibility in choosing their start times, creating a more positive work experience while improving transportation efficiency and supporting the development of a more sustainable and effective urban environment.
The policy applies to administrative roles with fixed schedules and excludes sectors that require continuous operations and uninterrupted service delivery, including healthcare, public education, and field-based or operational positions.
Experts say the expanded flexibility could significantly improve employee focus, mental performance, and productivity. However, they stress that its long-term success will depend on a shift toward results-driven performance evaluation, leadership development, and the establishment of core working hours that maintain collaboration across teams.
Ali Aljumhour, co-founder of Value Executive Consulting, said the four-hour flexibility window would enhance employees’ mental efficiency compared with traditional fixed working schedules.
He noted that greater flexibility allows employees to align their work schedules with their natural biological rhythms and family commitments, leading to higher-quality performance and stronger productivity throughout the workday.
Aljumhour added that maximizing the benefits of the initiative requires organizations to rethink workplace culture and performance management systems. He called for a transition from evaluating employees based on attendance and hours worked to assessing them according to outcomes, achievements, and measurable performance indicators.
“Productivity improves when employees are measured by the impact they create rather than the number of hours they spend at work,” he said, emphasizing the importance of digital transparency and designated core working hours to ensure effective communication and collaboration among teams.
KPI Institute
Dhafer Al-Qarni, a member of The KPI Institute, said the expanded flexibility window provides organizations with a practical tool to improve employees’ mental and physical readiness while transforming flexible work arrangements from a limited organizational benefit into a broader institutional policy.
He added that the initiative could also facilitate the scheduling of workshops and training programs outside peak traffic hours, potentially increasing participation rates while minimizing disruptions to daily operations.
Al-Qarni stressed that successful implementation will require leadership training focused on managing flexible teams and measuring performance based on results. He also highlighted the need to raise employee awareness and provide training on how to use the initiative effectively in ways that strengthen productivity, discipline, and long-term professional development.
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