The UAE honoured its most employee-centric companies at the Employee Happiness Awards 2025, celebrating outstanding achievements in creating positive, inclusive, and high-performance workplaces. Organised to recognise organisations that prioritise employee well-being, engagement, and cultural transformation, the awards highlight how businesses are redefining success through people-first strategies.
Held in Dubai, the event brought together senior HR leaders, CEOs, and policy makers from across industries to celebrate organisations that have consistently invested in employee satisfaction, mental wellness, diversity, work-life balance, and overall workplace happiness.
Key Highlights of the Awards
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Top Honourees included organisations from sectors such as banking, healthcare, technology, retail, and logistics, reflecting a broad commitment to workplace well-being across industries.
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Categories ranged from Best Employer for Work-Life Balance, Best Workplace for Women, and Excellence in Leadership Development to Innovation in Employee Engagement.
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The awards were evaluated through a robust methodology that included employee feedback, leadership assessments, and organisational culture audits.
People-First Approach Gaining Ground in UAE
The UAE government has been a strong advocate of workplace happiness and employee engagement, aligning with the broader national vision for well-being and productivity. In line with this, the Employee Happiness Awards complement initiatives like:
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National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing
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Future of Work Strategy
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UAE Vision 2031, which includes human development as a central pillar
These awards further reinforce the belief that employee satisfaction leads to better business performance, higher retention, and stronger employer branding.
Recognition of Inclusive and Innovative Practices
Several award-winning organisations were recognised for their unique and inclusive practices:
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Flexible working arrangements and remote work policies
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Mental health support systems, including in-house counselling
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Women’s leadership programmes and gender parity goals
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Employee recognition systems, digital learning platforms, and wellness initiatives
The awards also applauded efforts to create multi-cultural, respectful, and psychologically safe environments, especially in diverse workforces like that of the UAE.
Impact and Outlook
As the region competes globally to attract and retain top talent, the Employee Happiness Awards serve as a benchmark for excellence in HR practices. They encourage more companies to invest in their most valuable asset: their people.
With work cultures evolving in the post-pandemic world, UAE’s top employers are demonstrating how purpose-driven leadership, compassion, and innovation can redefine employee experience and organisational success.
