As global temperatures rise due to climate change, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman—face an escalating occupational health crisis. Millions of migrant workers, who form the backbone of the Gulf’s construction, service, and delivery sectors, are exposed to extreme heat conditions that threaten their health and lives. Despite clear scientific evidence and mounting testimonies from workers, Gulf states continue to rely on outdated, calendar-based midday work bans that fail to provide adequate protection from the intensifying heat. This article analyzes the current situation, the limitations of existing policies, the lived experiences of workers, and the urgent need for comprehensive, evidence-based reforms.
The Reality of Extreme Heat Exposure in the Gulf
Record-Breaking Temperatures and Early Heatwaves
In May 2025, Dubai recorded an unprecedented temperature of 51.6°C (124.88°F) two days in a row, breaking its previous record of 50.2°C set in 2009. Kuwait experienced similar extremes. These temperatures, combined with high humidity, create life-threatening conditions for outdoor workers. Notably, the Gulf’s extreme heat season is beginning earlier, with dangerous conditions appearing in May—well before the official start of the midday work bans, which typically begin on June 15 in many Gulf countries.
Health Impacts on Migrant Workers
Human Rights Watch (HRW) interviewed 19 migrant workers from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait between July 2024 and May 2025, supplementing hundreds of interviews conducted in 2023 and 2024. Workers reported a range of heat-related health issues including dizziness, vomiting, nosebleeds, fainting, and chronic conditions such as kidney failure. One Saudi-based worker recounted experiencing three nosebleeds in a single summer, while a Kuwait-based electrician described fainting multiple times and witnessing coworkers collapse due to heat exhaustion.
The health risks are severe and multifaceted. Heat exposure can cause heat rash, cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. These conditions can be fatal or lead to long-term health problems such as end-stage renal failure. The physical toll is compounded by poor living conditions and inadequate access to cooling and hydration.
The Inadequacy of Calendar-Based Midday Work Bans
What Are Midday Work Bans?
Most Gulf states have implemented midday work bans during the hottest months, typically from June 15 to September 15, restricting outdoor labor between noon and 3 p.m. Bahrain recently extended its ban to three months, aligning with neighboring countries. While these bans are a step toward protecting workers, they are insufficient given the reality of extreme heat.
Scientific Evidence Against Fixed-Time Bans
Studies reveal that the hottest and most dangerous periods often fall outside the official banned hours. For example, research in Saudi Arabia found peak heat exposure occurs between 9 a.m. and noon, when work is still permitted. Similarly, a study in Kuwait showed increased occupational injuries linked to extreme heat regardless of the midday ban.
A former Saudi construction worker described starting work at 4 a.m. to avoid heat but noted that by 8 a.m., temperatures became “very hot” and “unbearable” by 10 a.m. Despite this, resting outside the banned hours led to wage deductions and penalties. This illustrates how calendar-based bans fail to protect workers during the most hazardous times.
Enforcement Challenges
Even when bans are in place, enforcement is inconsistent. Workers reported being penalized for resting during work hours and lacking access to adequate facilities. Many accommodations lacked functioning air conditioning or refrigeration, leading to spoiled food and increased health risks. Delivery workers, particularly bike riders, face additional challenges such as heat-induced equipment failures and unrealistic delivery targets, which increase physical strain and risk.
Risk-Based Heat Protection: The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index
What Is WBGT?
The WBGT index accounts for temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation to measure heat stress more accurately than temperature alone. It is widely used globally to set safe work-rest cycles for outdoor labor.
Current Implementation and Limitations
Only Qatar has adopted the WBGT index, setting an upper threshold of 32.1°C (89.78°F) to halt outdoor work. However, this threshold is too high, and enforcement remains weak. Scientific studies indicate that WBGT values between 30°C and 32°C can already cause severe heat strain.
What Workers Need
Effective heat protection requires:
- Real-time risk assessment using WBGT or similar indices
- Access to shaded rest areas and cold drinking water
- Proper nutrition and air-conditioned accommodations
- Flexible work-rest schedules based on heat risk and work intensity
HRW documented that many workers lack these basic protections, often waking up exhausted and returning to work in unsafe conditions.
Testimonies from Migrant Workers
The Human Cost
A Saudi-based worker described wage deductions for resting during extreme heat, and the absence of air conditioning in rest areas. “During my two years in Saudi Arabia, my wages were deducted twice when I was caught resting,” he said.
A Kuwait-based bike delivery rider recounted falling twice in one month due to heat exhaustion.
“When 49-degree hot air hits your face, how do you feel? I compare my job with a desert camel. We don’t have any option. We have to drink water and run,”
he said. He welcomed Kuwait’s extension of midday work bans for bike riders but wished delivery targets were also reduced.
Barriers to Reform: Silencing and Structural Issues
Lack of Worker Representation
Trade unions and collective bargaining are banned or severely restricted in Gulf states, silencing workers’ voices and limiting their ability to advocate for safer conditions. Fear of retaliation and job loss prevents many from speaking out.
Government Responses
HRW reached out to all six Gulf states regarding heat protection policies. The UAE emphasized high compliance with midday bans but did not address calls for stronger, risk-based protections. Other countries failed to provide substantive responses.
The Business Case for Better Heat Protections
Productivity and Safety
Beyond moral imperatives, protecting workers from heat improves productivity and reduces accidents and health-related absences. Investments in cooling technology, such as low-cost cooling vests, have shown promise in pilot programs in Dubai and Qatar.
Cost-Effectiveness
Cooling vests and improved rest facilities are relatively inexpensive compared to the costs of lost labor, medical treatment, and fatalities. Employers benefit from healthier, more reliable workers.
Recommendations for Gulf States
To safeguard migrant workers, Gulf governments should:
- Adopt risk-based heat protection standards using WBGT or equivalent indices
- Implement evidence-based work-rest schedules tailored to heat risk and work intensity
- Ensure access to shaded rest areas, cold water, and air-conditioned accommodations
- Strengthen enforcement mechanisms with regular inspections and penalties for violations
- Allow independent worker representation and protect workers’ rights to speak out
- Invest in cooling technologies and infrastructure to mitigate heat exposure
The Gulf states face a critical choice: continue relying on outdated, ineffective midday work bans that leave millions of migrant workers exposed to deadly heat, or adopt science-based, comprehensive protections that save lives and improve working conditions. As climate change intensifies, the urgency of reform grows. Protecting migrant workers is not only a human rights imperative but also essential for the Gulf’s economic sustainability and global reputation.
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