Qatar is strengthening family stability and social cohesion through a series of family-oriented labour reforms that improve work-life balance, particularly for working parents, according to family consultant Youssef Al Suwaidi.
In an interview with Qatar TV on 31 August,2026, Al Suwaidi noted that supporting family stability and empowering households, especially working women, is a central objective of the Ministry of Social Development and Family’s strategy for 2025-2030.
He pointed to several measures currently in effect. These include expanded maternity leave, workplace support for women, and remote working options for special-care cases. The current framework grants 90 days maternity leave, extendable to six months under special circumstances.
The Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB) has also introduced greater flexibility across government entities. After a successful pilot programme, the Cabinet approved Circular No. 6 of 2025 in its 28th meeting of 2025, permitting Qatari mothers and mothers of Qatari children to leave two hours early during mid-year school breaks and mid-term and final examinations for both semesters.
Additional reforms include a flexible arrival window from 6:30 am to 8:30 am implemented in September 2024, one week of remote work annually for up to 30 per cent of employees per organisational unit, and one month of remote work annually for mothers with children under 12.
Al Suwaidi reportedly said the policies were informed by research from the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), which found long working hours caused significant stress, with 38.4 per cent of working women reporting dissatisfaction with hours. The initiatives, which exclude continuous-operation roles, support Qatar National Vision 2030 goals of workforce capability and family welfare.
