Top 10 workplaces in the UAE

Great Place to Work, a global research, training and consultancy firm that awards the best workplaces in over 50 countries worldwide, has revealed its ninth annual list of Best Workplaces in the UAE.

The 2019 UAE Great Place to Work list features 30 companies from a broad spectrum of industries and is topped by logistics giant DHL.

This year in the UAE, the retail sector demonstrated the highest level of participation with companies such as The One, Danube Home, Baby Shop, Emax, Centrepoint and ShoeExpress placing in the top 30.

DHL made a return to the top spot from second place last year, thanks to its efforts to ensure its employees have the best possible work environment.

The report said DHL has constantly raised the bar when it comes to people practices and has fostered a “unique and enviable workplace” with an emphasis on learning and development.

Leader of the Year for 2018-2019 went to Thomas Lundgren, CEO of The One for the second year running for his efforts in keeping the company among the top five in the list for eight consecutive years.

Rounding out the top three best workplaces this year was Hilton which moved up four spots from last year’s seventh spot.

Leaping five places from ninth last year, Cisco UAE came in fourth, followed closely by Omnicom Media Group. Both Hilton and Cisco UAE are new entrants in the top five in this year’s rankings.

FedEx Express, Weber Shandwick, WSP, Hilti and Hill + Knowlton Strategies completed the top 10 while the final 20 positions were taken by KFC, Temenos Middle East, Danube Home, General Mills, SAS Middle East, Glander International Bunkering, Five Hotels, NMC Healthcare, Wirecard Dubai, Leminar Air Conditioning Company & Industries, Transworld Group, Delta Partners, UAE Exchange, Babyshop, Emax, Pizza Express, FCM Travel Solutions UAE, Centrepoint, Shoexpress, and Al Dabbagh Group.

Maha Zaatari, managing director of Great Place to Work in the UAE, said: “There appears to be growing awareness among leaders in the UAE that workplace culture has become a major competitive advantage for their businesses.

“Pioneering organisations are continuously monitoring their employees’ work environments and seek new and impactful ways to increase happiness levels, enhance skills and retention rates and, ultimately, augment productivity.”

Top 10

1 DHL
2 The One
3 Hilton
4 Cisco UAE
5 Omnicom Media Group
6 FedEx Express
7 Weber Shandwick
8 WSP
9 Hilti
10 Hill + Knowlton Strategies

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