Dubai, UAE — In a rapidly changing corporate landscape, UAE companies are rethinking one of the oldest fixtures of office life: the meeting. Amid concerns over productivity, burnout, and bloated calendars, a growing number of organisations are asking a now-critical question: “Could this have been a Slack message?”
The result? A sweeping culture shift across industries, replacing time-consuming meetings with smarter, real-time communication.
Cutting the Clutter: A Shift from Talk to Action
Leading the charge is Dubai-based athleisure brand The Giving Movement, which has made the anti-meeting mantra its workplace slogan — literally. The phrase is now emblazoned across meeting room doors at the company’s headquarters.
“We were drowning in meetings,” said Sabahatt Habib, Chief People and Culture Officer.
“Most of the day was spent jumping from one call to the next. We had great ideas, but no time to execute them. It was mentally and creatively draining.”
The company has now drastically reduced unnecessary meetings and embraced tools like Slack for day-to-day communication. The result? Happier teams, more focused work, and a reclaimed sense of time.
A Widespread Movement Across the Emirates
The Giving Movement is far from alone. At the Dubai International Project Management Forum, Emaar Properties Chairman Mohamed Alabbar made headlines when he challenged the very utility of most meetings.
“Don’t tell me meetings lead to positive decisions or results,” he declared. “They rarely do.”
The sentiment echoes what many business leaders and employees are feeling. According to a University of North Carolina study, unproductive meetings cost companies with 100 employees up to $2.5 million per year — a figure that multiplies exponentially in larger firms.
Global Inspiration, Local Innovation
UAE firms are taking cues from global players. Shopify eliminated recurring meetings with more than three attendees and introduced ‘No Meeting Wednesdays’ — a move that cleared 36 years’ worth of calendar events. Tech giants like Meta and Canva have followed suit.
In the UAE, businesses are tailoring those changes to local needs.
Sonal Chiber, a corporate consultant in Dubai, says it’s not a passing trend, but a critical workplace evolution.
“Too many meetings fragment focus and fuel burnout. By reducing them, companies unlock deeper work, creativity, and better well-being.”
She notes some multinationals now adopt quarterly “Focus Weeks” with minimal internal meetings, using tools like Microsoft Teams to stay connected without crowding the calendar.
Rethinking Brainstorms, Not Just Status Updates
In the high-energy world of PR, Budgie PR Managing Director Nicola Ellegaard has introduced a more streamlined approach. After an initial 60-day client onboarding phase, her team switches to monthly check-ins and relies heavily on messaging and email for daily updates.
“Too many check-the-box meetings cause fatigue. We’ve cut back significantly,” Ellegaard said.
“We even run brainstorming on Slack, which keeps ideas flowing without the start-stop disruption of scheduled calls.”
Structure Over Slide Decks
For Samina Ghori, Deputy CEO of Kaya Clinics, effective meetings are brief, structured, and action-oriented. Her approach includes:
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15–30 minute caps on meetings
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No slide decks — just decisions and action items
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AI-powered summaries to replace lengthy recaps
“The future of work isn’t fewer meetings — it’s smarter collaboration,” Ghori explained.
Meetings Need a Mission
Workplace strategist Nandini Navaseelan, HR Director at Pathwayz Solutionz, puts it bluntly:
“A meeting without a mission is just a professionally sanctioned time heist. Structure it or skip it.”
She recommends three golden rules for every meeting:
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Start with a clear goal
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Stay focused on outcomes
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End with action points and accountability
Final Word
As UAE businesses embrace efficiency over excess, the humble meeting is no longer sacred. With productivity, employee well-being, and bottom lines on the line, the message is clear: If it can be said on Slack — it probably should.
