Held as part of the CIPD Middle East People Conference & Awards, the Awards recognise individuals, teams and organisations for their outstanding achievements in people management and development. In the inaugural edition, ADNOC, RAKBANK, Kerzner International and Abu Dhabi Police emerged as big winners.

“With over 80 entries from some of the region’s most innovative employers and people functions and 160 attendees on each day, the response to our inaugural Awards last year was overwhelming. This year, we received over 140 entries – proof that the region is ever focusing on championing better work and working lives. The jury was impressed by the quality and impact of the entries, and I look forward to celebrating the region’s achievements”, comments Ramy Bayyour, General Manager for the Middle East at CIPD.

Judged by a panel of senior regional HR professionals and CIPD global experts, the Awards span across ten organisational categories. Sifting through hundreds of entries, the judges were looking for entries that demonstrate high impact, innovation, leadership and an approach which is evidence-based and principles-led.

The finalists are: 

BEST WELL-BEING PROGRAMME

• Mashreq 
• Jumeirah Group 
• Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi 

BEST DIGITAL INNOVATION IN HR

• Etisalat 
• Injazat Data Systems 
• Teleperformance Dibs
• ADNOC

BEST RECRUITMENT & TALENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

• ADNOC
• Hadaf Food Industries 
• Kerzner International 
• Tanfeeth 

BEST COACHING & MENTORING INITIATIVE

• Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) 
• ADNOC
• PTG Talent Solutions (PTD Ltd) 

BEST EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE 

• Dyson
• Cigna Insurance Middle East
• Bupa Arabia
• Splash
• Mashreq

BEST L&D PROGRAMME 

• AFAQ Leadership 
• Aramco
• FAB
• Jumeirah Group 
• Farah Experiences 
• Institute of Public Administration, Saudi Arabia
• Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD)

HR / L&D TEAM OF THE YEAR 

• Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
• Mastercard
• Axiom Telecom
• WSP 

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR 

• Chalhoub Group 
• Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) 
• PwC
• Bahri

MOST IMPACTFUL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVE

• Splash
• RAKBANK 
• EY
• Mastercard 

HR RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

• Samiha AlBalooshi, Jumeirah
• Christina Kraus, Jumeirah
• Lamia Abu Dan, AFAQ for Leadership Development

OUTSTANDING CIPD STUDENT OF THE YEAR 

• Jean Claude Concepcion, Victory Training and Development Institute
• Jasim Al Ali, ADNOC
• Mariam Al Mazrouie, ADNOC
• Kholood Mohammed AL-Mattar, Nesma & Partners Contracting Co. Ltd

Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 23 September 2020. The Awards are held as part of the CIPD Middle East People Conference & Awards, which is supported by ICS Learn. 

For more information, visit www.cipdconference.com or follow the conversation at #CIPDME. For inquiries, please contact events@cipd.ae.