DHL named Top Company to Work For in the UAE for third consecutive year

Dubai, UAE, 9th March 2016: Great Place to Work, a global research, training and consultancy firm that recognizes the best workplaces in over 50 countries worldwide, has revealed the Top Companies to Work For in the UAE. Now in its sixth year, the list recognizes the top 20 companies in the UAE with outstanding workplace cultures.

This year Great Place to Work attracted a record level of participation in the UAE, resulting in an increased number of companies qualifying for the Top Companies to Work For List. Great Place to Work attributes this increase to the value companies see in improving their workplace culture and being recognized as a top employer brand.

There is a growing understanding among business leaders in the UAE that workplace culture has become a significant competitive advantage for organizations to attract and retain top talent. Leading organizations are continuously monitoring their employees workplace experience and looking for innovative ways to make incremental improvements, said Maha Zaatari, Managing Director of Great Place to Work in the UAE.

The 2016 List

Securing the number one position on the Top 20 Companies to Work For in the UAE list for the third consecutive year was DHL. The logistics company prioritizes living by its core values, nurturing employee development, creating a fun work environment, being transparent, listening and acting on employee feedback and celebrating successes. DHL puts its workplace initiatives on top of its strategic plans and ensures that management spends time with frontline employees. This includes attending courier rides and customer service callsto ensure employees understand how integral they are to the success of the organization and its customers. 

This years runner-up was THE One, who advanced two spots from 2015 followed by Omnicom Media Group who retained its third position. In fourth place was first-time list maker Splash, while The Estee Lauder Companies came in fifth, climbing one spot from 2015.

Ranking from sixth to 10th place on the list were EMC, Weber Shandwick, Hilti Emirates, Hilton and FedEx respectively. Rounding out the final 10 positions on the list were WSP | Parsons Brinkerhoff, Hyatt, AstraZeneca Gulf, Al Ghandi Auto Group, Leminar, Dulsco, Eros Group, Apparel Group, 3M and UAE Exchange.

The Top Companies should be really proud of their great achievements, said Zaatari. We are pleased to see a number of new participants from different industries achieve a ranking. This is the first time that Great Place to Work in the UAE has recognized an automotive company. A special mention goes to previous list makers who have maintained or advanced their positions on this years list. To do so in the face of such intense competition is testament to their high trust workplace cultures and the value they place on continuous improvement.

Great Place to Work emphasized that the increased focus on workplace culture by UAE companies comes at critical time for the country.

The next decade will mark the post-oil transformation of the UAE and the government has made clear the importance of developing, attracting and retaining the best talent to achieve sustainable growth. We need more companies contributing to this mission through cultures that nurture and develop their employees in terms of their capabilities and wellbeing. This focus on human capital has been proven to improve the happiness quotient of people and also make a significant contribution to helping the UAE realize its ambition to be the best country in which to live and work, added Zaatari. 

The Top Companies to Work For annual benchmarking study assesses the level of credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie within an organization, and forms part of the worlds largest employee survey. Two-thirds of a companys score is based on the confidential feedback of their employees while the remaining score is attained from an audit of management and HR practices.

The Top 20 Companies to Work For in the UAE were represented by a diverse number of industries including logistics, technology, finance, media, retail, hospitality, automotive, pharmaceutical and manufacturing. New list makers in the Top 20 Companies in 2016 included Splash, Hilton, Hilti Emirates, Al Ghandi Auto Group, Eros Group] AstraZeneca Gulf, 3M and UAE Exchange.

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About Great Place to Work
Great Place to Work is a global research and management consultancy that recognizes the best workplaces in over 50 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 Institutes 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 Top Companies to Work For in the UAE list
Any UAE company with 50 or more employees is eligible to participate in the fee-based program.  Any company that appears on the list is selected primarily on the basis of their employees' responses to the Great Place to Work Trust Index, a proprietary employee survey developed by Great Place to Work.  In addition, the Institute evaluates materials submitted by the company, including the company's response to the Great Place to Work  Culture Audit, any accompanying materials submitted by the company for consideration, as well as information gathered from other reputable sources such as media stories about the company.  Organizations are able to apply from now and until October 2016 for the 2017 Top Companies list.

Companies interested in applying for the 2016 To Companies list may register their interest with Amany Mohamed at amany.mohamed@greatplacetowork.com.

Media Contacts:
Mutaz Albadri                                                                               
Mojo PR                                            
Tel: +971 50 570 6785                                                 
mutaz@mojo-me.com     

Richelle Fosberry
Mojo PR
Tel: +971 56 470 7783                                  
richelle@mojo-me.com   

Press Release 2016