Nearly 38 percent of the Emirati workforce expects a combined pattern of work that allows employees to work from both offices and homes even after the pandemic gets controlled, as per a recent study.
About 31 percent of the employees look forward to work from home permanently after the pandemic, research by US-based Zoom Video Communications conducted to collect the opinions of Emiratis on the popularity of live streaming platforms and the future of work, points out.
Whereas 27 percent of the research participants considered going back to the office full-time once the pandemic subsides.
“The pandemic has introduced rapid and dramatic shifts in how people work by changing habits and opening new opportunities for the work environment,” says Derek Pando, international and partner marketing at Zoom.
Even though the sample size of the research was not revealed by the video conferencing service provider, It was said that 68 percents were males and 32 percent females of respondents.
But to continue the hybrid model of work, respondents said it was important that such platforms continue to be available.
About 83 percent of the Emiratis have opined that it is very important to have such platforms to continue with the hybrid model of work whereas 6 percent said they can manage without them.
The UAE had previously imposed Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in the country and in March it temporarily brought relaxation on the restrictions on platforms like Microsoft’s Skype, Google Hangouts and Zoom to bring ease in remote work and distance learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.
When asked their view regarding this, more than 70 percent of the respondents said that access to video communication platforms must be permanently allowed in the UAE and 66 percent think that this temporary relaxation will enhance the country’s economy and innovation.
The move has helped platforms like Zoom which has been used for various purposes like entertainment, fitness and education, garner a massive user base.
“We value the region’s focus on digital transformation, particularly true in the UAE where the government’s ambition to fast track its digital economy gives us full confidence in the potential that this market represents for Zoom,” Sam Tayan, managing director for the Middle East and Africa at Zoom, said.
Within one month after the country offered temporary ease in the restrictions the user base of Zoom in the UAE grew 900 percent to touch 1 million. Within the first week, after the ban was lifted, Zoom gained 100,000 new free and paid users in the country.
