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GCC 31st of May 2022

On the 31^st of May 2022, Great Place to Work^® - a global research, training and consultancy firm that recognizes the Best Workplaces™ in over 60 countries worldwide - has revealed three lists of ‘Best Workplaces™ in the GCC for the year 2022’.

The three lists recognized organizations with outstanding workplace cultures in the Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare, Technology and Retail as the top 10, top 15 and top 5, respectively.

These organizations have been working diligently in bridging the gaps, transforming cultures and evolving into being Best Workplaces™. The organizations that made it to the list have proven that employee well-being does not need to be comprised in order to achieve growth, in fact both go hand-in-hand. Maintaining employee wellbeing in a post-pandemic era is not plain sailing; hence these organizations exerted tremendous efforts.

Leaders this year got even more creative in the ways with which they connect with their employees, thus continuously building up on a solid foundation of trust. With perpetual communication across all-levels of the organization, employees felt resonated with and cared for.

Organizations this year also built upon a sense of belonging. When everything seemed to be susceptible to the pandemic, employees were made to feel comfortable with choices they make. The stability that was granted to them throughout the year provided them with the chance to get inspired and grow mentally and physically while seeking to uphold the success of their work/life balance.

To boost employee morale, organizations made sure to provide their staff with learning opportunities to grow, as well as fun and engaging programs. A package that would not be complete without a simple ‘thank you’ note. Continuous appreciation and recognition to employees when they least expect, offers them the mechanism to reach their full potential and showcase the best of their attributes.

Employees even began to form a stronger bond not only with their colleagues, but across all levels of the organization as well.

Our heroes this year have utilized what they do best and not only did they reflect that internally within their organization, but they extended it out to the community as well under the notion, ‘we are in this together.’

It is important to note as well some of the efforts the organizations exerted in providing a more sustainable environment in which employees can prosper.

Best Workplaces in Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare

The following companies do not only make choices based on science, but also have made several culture-related choices based on their employees.

Servier has amazingly headed the list as the number one ranked company in the Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare sector. This outstanding company was able to not only land on the list, but secure the best seat on it. Servier offers a professional environment that encourages employees to develop themselves and reach their full potential: tailor-made onboarding journeys, mobility opportunities, quality trainings and responsible management.

Amgen, coming in second place, is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies; hence, it was no surprise that they have made it to the top of the list. Amgen provides career growth opportunities to their diverse workforce of 51% women and 14 different nationalities through the Gulf Champions dynamic skills learning program, developmental assignments, projects and relocation support and filled 63% of positions with our talents. Amgen is a values-based company, deeply rooted in science and innovation to transform new ideas and discoveries into medicines for patients with serious illnesses.

Ranked third for this year is Aida Holdings. This company prides itself in being able to bring together a culture of pivotal professionalism that bounds the needs of their employees both in a professional and personal front. They are a perfect example whereby catering the needs of employees will act as a cornerstone of a company’s growth and empowerment.

Ranking 4^th to 10^th in this year’s Best Workplaces list was Fakeeh University Hospital, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Lean Business Services, AbbVie Biopharmaceuticals, MSD, Medtronic Meta FZ-LLC and Eli Lilly.

Best Workplaces in Technology

Great Place to Work for the first time holds a Technology List and the results were Impeccable!

Tech companies tend to be hyper-growth oriented; however, the following companies have exerted effort in directing their hyper-growth towards improving their work environment and becoming best workplaces.

Ranking first in this year’s Best Workplaces in Technology is Cisco. The main purpose of Cisco was a key contributor to them being a Great Place to Work at. They believe to ‘power an inclusive future for all’. As one of the leading forces in connecting the world, the company understands its unique opportunity to bring communities together and create meaningful change for everyone, everywhere. This starts with maintaining an environment in which diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of the employee experience.

OYO ranked number two on our Technology list and is global travel technology company that empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses with hotels and homes by providing full-stack technology that increases earnings and eases operations; bringing easy to book, affordable, and trusted accommodation to customers around the world. 

Coming in third place, Akamai Technologies Limited which connects billions of people with their favorite brands to shop online, play games, share ideas, manage money, and so much more. They may not know it, but Akamai is there, powering and protecting life online. Our suite of leading security, compute, and delivery solutions are helping global companies make life better for billions of people, billions of times a day.

4^th to 15^th place ranks is for ShortPoint, Omni Clouds, Solutions by STC, Coberg Technologies, Talabat, Safe Decision, Seidor MENA, Ingram Micro, Jahez international, Redington Gulf, Mekdam Holding Group, Checkout.com

Best Workplaces in Retail

The following companies for being the best workplaces while not only focusing on scaling, but on also building a high trust culture while challenging conventional thinking of retail.

THE One has been dominating and ranking first in many lists as the Best Workplace in Retail. During times of unforeseen crisis, consistent communication is key. Through their clear and inspiring message, ‘We are all in this together and we will not leave anyone behind’, we build trust, loyalty and a sense of purpose for the long term.

SARA Group ranked number two on our Retail list and is is the Middle East’s leading distributor of luxury bathroom products, high-quality tiles, superior hospitality equipment, beautifully designed tableware, gift items, and home accessories. SARA Group, prides itself in providing their employees with an ego-free environment. SARA’s leadership views great culture as the prerequisite for the achievement of any business objective. Culture sits at the center and is the basis of our strategic plans and decision-making.

Coming in third place, Chalhoub Group which values it work in investing in sustainability, their mission is to help build a strong and sustainable business and community. The Chalhoub Group is a member of the United Nations Global Compact Community, signatory of the Women's Empowerment Principles and was awarded its seventh CSR Label from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

Ranking fourth on our list is AutoWorld, an operational lease expert established by SEDCO in 1981. They specialize in fleet management and offer comprehensive mobility services for government organizations and businesses across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. AutoWorld launched the OurValues campaign, having various events across all regions covering all employees’ levels, and Launched thier E-learning blended learning platform for all levels to boost the learning culture as part of its strategy. The female workforce and leaders jumped five times in two years across all areas to ensure a healthy diversification.

Fifth place goes to L'Occitane an international retailer of body, face and home products. This outstanding company provides its employees with a range of benefits that reflects the importance we place on staff well-being and enjoyment at work. 

Commenting on this year’s Best Workplaces™ in the GCC list, Ibrahim Mougharbel, Managing Director for the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, Great Place to Work® Middle East, said: “Despite the challenges we have faced during the pandemic, we are proud to witness even more continuous growth in employee culture awareness among leaders in the UAE and the Middle East in general. Our Best Workplaces™ for this year have persevered through the time of unprecedented upheaval and have continued to persevere post-pandemic and we are here to celebrate them. We are therefore not celebrating companies; we are celebrating heroes.”

Commenting on this year’s Best Workplaces™ in the KSA list, Tanzeel Rehman, Managing Director for the KSA and Bahrain, Great Place to Work® Middle East, said: “As a part of their organizational strategy, great workplaces throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia compete across different sectors in providing great workplace environments for ALL employees to ensure winning the war of local talent.  

Great Place to Work® Middle East conducts a rigorous audit of every participating company before it can be listed as one of the Best Workplaces™ in the region. This year, the Best Workplaces™ spanned across multiple industries that include retail, social services and government agencies, transportation, finance and media. The organizations were surveyed on fundamental issues that consider how trustworthy and caring an organization is for their employees.

To obtain Best Workplace™ ranking, the companies are scored. A large portion of a company’s score is based on the confidential feedback of their employees while the remaining score is attained from an audit of management and HR practices- a reflection of the company’s solutions to specific criteria. Within this framework, organizations were asked about their values, trust process, leadership methods, innovation processes and how they maximize their employees’ potential. The heroes that are continuously building a greater environment for their employees have stood out, and we are always here to celebrate them. 

For more information on the 2022 list: https://greatplacetowork.me/list-application-deadlines/

Table 1. Top 10 Best Workplaces™ in Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare in the GCC of the year 2022

Table 2. Top 15 Best Workplaces™ in Technology in the GCC of the year 2022

Table 3. Top 5 Best Workplaces™ in Retail in the GCC of the year 2022

-ENDS-

About Great Place to Work^®

Great Place to Work^® is a global research and management consultancy that recognizes the Best Workplaces™ in over 60 countries worldwide and provides premier business and advisory services.  Its mission is to improve peoples’ lives and create a better society by improving the workplace experience. Great Place to Work was founded in 1991 to provide a simple, research-driven methodology that could be widely used to understand and assess organizations.  A proprietary employee survey and assessment of HR policies form the foundation of the Institute’s research and consulting services and has been used by companies from all over the world to create strong workplace cultures based on trusting relationships. Great Place to Work believes that in a society of great workplaces, employees feel respected, proud, and trust that management is committed to “doing the right thing.” 

Following increased demand from the GCC countries for its workplace evaluation services, Great Place to Work expanded to the UAE in March 2010 as a licensed division of Best Companies Group. The UAE operation serves as the regional headquarters for the Middle East, with consultants and sales staff appointed in each market.

About the ‘Best Workplaces™ in the UAE’ list

Any company based in the Middle East, falls within the industries belonging to the lists and employs 10 or more employees is eligible to participate.  Any company that appears on the list is selected primarily based on their employees' responses to the Great Place to Work Trust Index^©, a proprietary employee survey developed by Great Place to Work®.  In addition, the Great Place to Work® Middle East evaluates materials submitted by the company, including the company's response to the Great Place to Work® Culture Audit^© with accompanying materials submitted by the company for consideration. Organizations can apply from now and until the beginning of the following year for the 2023 Best Workplaces™ list.

Companies interested in applying for the 2023 ‘Best Workplaces™’ list may register on our website www.greatplacetowork.me