This year’s finalists have been revealed, with entries reflecting a drive to build skills, develop talent and advance national workforce goals across the Middle East
The CIPD has revealed the finalists for the annual Middle East People Awards, following a record-breaking number of entries.
This year, the awards attracted entries from people teams across the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Turkey and Egypt.
We also saw notable growth in nominations from Saudi Arabia, our largest membership base in the region. This increase reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing investment in strategic HR and the expanding role the profession is playing in delivering national priorities.
A panel of 34 independent judges, including experienced HR professionals, CIPD members and non-members, used the CIPD Profession Map to assess over 200 entries. The nominations showed a strong focus on skills, talent and national workforce goals, with Learning and Development, Talent Management and Nationalisation the most-entered categories.
For the first time this year, we’ve split the Learning and Development category – which continues to attract more submissions than any other – into public and private sector categories. Record participation in the Wellbeing category, meanwhile, highlights a growing shift towards long-term health and wellbeing strategies.
“This year’s record participation highlights the people profession’s growing strategic influence across the region. The quality and breadth of entries reflect a profession that is confident, capable and committed to shaping better work and working lives.”
This year, we’re celebrating ten years of championing better work and working lives across the Middle East. Over the past decade, we've supported thousands of professionals and organisations through internationally recognised qualifications, evidence-based insights and a thriving community of people professionals.
Our Middle East People Awards – now in their sixth year – reflect how far we’ve come. They recognise the individuals and teams driving progress, shaping better workplaces and raising the bar for the people profession. As the awards continue to grow, they highlight the region’s ambition to lead in strategic HR and build inclusive, future-ready organisations.
“The profession is playing a critical role in delivering national visions and driving long-term transformation across the Middle East. The focus on learning, talent, wellbeing and nationalisation shows how organisations are embedding people strategy within economic and social progress.”
We’d like to thank our four sponsors for their support in celebrating excellence in the people profession across the Middle East:
Taaeen Consulting & Talent Development – headline sponsor
FBS | Future Solutions Today – silver sponsor
ICS Learn – bronze sponsor
Kaplan – bronze sponsor
CIPD Chief Executive, Peter Cheese, will join finalists and guests at a gala dinner at The One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai, on 11 December.
At the CIPD, we are uniquely placed to help you future-proof your organisation by addressing your fundamental people challenges.
We are the voice, the benchmark and the partner for experts in people, work and change
Join with us in championing better work and working lives across the Middle East
