diff --git a/.github/workflows/UpdateDirectory.yml b/.github/workflows/UpdateDirectory.yml
index 437ab55b91..2343ac8368 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/UpdateDirectory.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/UpdateDirectory.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
-# This GitHub Action updates the DIRECTORY.md file (if needed) when doing a git push
+# This workflow keeps DIRECTORY.md up to date.
+# On protected default branches, it opens a pull request instead of pushing directly.
 name: Update Directory
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches-ignore:
-      "master"
+    branches:
+      - master
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+  pull-requests: write
 
 jobs:
   updateDirectory:
@@ -23,16 +28,14 @@ jobs:
       - name: 🗄️ Create Directory from JS files
         run: node .github/workflows/UpdateDirectory.js
 
-      - name: Configure Github Action
-        run: |
-          git config --global user.name "$GITHUB_ACTOR"
-          git config --global user.email "$GITHUB_ACTOR@users.noreply.github.com"
-
-      - name: 🤓 Commit & push new Directory (if needed)
-        run: |
-          if [[ `git status --porcelain` ]]; then
-            git commit -am "Updated Documentation in README.md"
-            git push
-          else
-            echo "NO CHANGES DETECTED"
-          fi
+      - name: 🤓 Open pull request for DIRECTORY.md updates (if needed)
+        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v7
+        with:
+          branch: ci/update-directory
+          delete-branch: true
+          commit-message: "chore: update DIRECTORY.md"
+          title: "chore: update DIRECTORY.md"
+          body: |
+            Automated update of `DIRECTORY.md` generated by `.github/workflows/UpdateDirectory.js`.
+          add-paths: |
+            DIRECTORY.md