Companies in the Middle East are continuing to focus on employee well-being, work-life balance and learning opportunities. Getty Images
Companies in the Middle East are continuing to focus on employee well-being, work-life balance and learning opportunities. Getty Images
Companies in the Middle East are continuing to focus on employee well-being, work-life balance and learning opportunities. Getty Images
Companies in the Middle East are continuing to focus on employee well-being, work-life balance and learning opportunities. Getty Images

Where are the best places to work in the Middle East in 2022?


Deepthi Nair
  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai-based furniture chain The One has been named the Middle East's best workplace in the medium category in 2022, as companies in the region continue to focus on employee well-being, work-life balance and learning opportunities in the post-pandemic era, a survey by management consultancy Great Place to Work showed.

Dubai Police Academy, financial services provider Century Financial, international fast-food chain Pizza Express and UAE-based property company Metropolitan Group round out the top five best workplaces in the medium category, the survey, released on Thursday, found.

Other UAE companies in the list include Sharjah-based food manufacturing company Global Food Industries, piping materials supplier PetroGas Piping, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, building materials distributor Sara Group and public relations company Hill+Knowlton Strategies, among others, the survey revealed.

Top 15 companies to work for in the UAE, according to LinkedIn — in pictures

  • Luxury retailer Chalhoub Group is the best company to work for in the UAE this year, according to LinkedIn. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Luxury retailer Chalhoub Group is the best company to work for in the UAE this year, according to LinkedIn. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Abu Dhabi’s strategic investment arm, Mubadala Investment Company, was second on the best company list. Photo: Mubadala
    Abu Dhabi’s strategic investment arm, Mubadala Investment Company, was second on the best company list. Photo: Mubadala
  • Healthcare provider Mediclinic was third on the LinkedIn list. Reuters
    Healthcare provider Mediclinic was third on the LinkedIn list. Reuters
  • Europe’s largest bank, HSBC, is the fourth best company to work for in the UAE this year, according to LinkedIn. Reuters
    Europe’s largest bank, HSBC, is the fourth best company to work for in the UAE this year, according to LinkedIn. Reuters
  • Hospitals operator Aster DM Healthcare completed the top five best companies to work for in the UAE in 2022. Jeffrey Biteng / The National
    Hospitals operator Aster DM Healthcare completed the top five best companies to work for in the UAE in 2022. Jeffrey Biteng / The National
  • National health insurer Daman was sixth. Ryan Carter / The National
    National health insurer Daman was sixth. Ryan Carter / The National
  • The Al Tayer Group and its portfolio of businesses was seventh. Photo: Facebook
    The Al Tayer Group and its portfolio of businesses was seventh. Photo: Facebook
  • Cosmetics company L’Oreal was eighth. Reuters
    Cosmetics company L’Oreal was eighth. Reuters
  • Dubai lender Mashreq Bank was ninth on LinkedIn's list. Satish Kumar / The National
    Dubai lender Mashreq Bank was ninth on LinkedIn's list. Satish Kumar / The National
  • Life insurer MetLife rounded out the top 10 companies to work for in the UAE. Reuters
    Life insurer MetLife rounded out the top 10 companies to work for in the UAE. Reuters
  • Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank was 11th.
    Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank was 11th.
  • Gulf Marketing Group (parent of Sun & Sand Sports) was 12th. Photo: Facebook
    Gulf Marketing Group (parent of Sun & Sand Sports) was 12th. Photo: Facebook
  • Business conglomerate and mall operator Majid Al Futtaim was 13th.
    Business conglomerate and mall operator Majid Al Futtaim was 13th.
  • E-commerce company Amazon was 14th. AP Photo
    E-commerce company Amazon was 14th. AP Photo
  • Energy services company Schneider Electric completed the LinkedIn top 15. AFP
    Energy services company Schneider Electric completed the LinkedIn top 15. AFP

“Despite the challenges we 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,” Ibrahim Mougharbel, managing director for the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait at Great Place to Work Middle East, said.

“Our best workplaces for this year have persevered through the time of unprecedented upheaval and continued to persevere post-pandemic.”

The survey included companies in sectors such as retail, social services, government agencies, transport, finance and media.

Companies based in the Middle East that fall within these industries and employ 10 or more workers are eligible to participate in the survey. They are assessed based on employee feedback and an audit of management and HR practices.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, employees and jobseekers have been increasingly requesting to work from home at least two days a week, in addition to asking for flexible hours and training opportunities, recruitment company Robert Half said in its 2022 salary guide.

A June survey by global consultancy PwC found that professionals in the Middle East are prioritising opportunities to improve their skills as well as seeking transparency, flexibility and well-being in the workplace.

Meanwhile, Riyadh International Catering Corporation McDonald’s, which holds the fast-food chain’s franchise in parts of Saudi Arabia, was ranked as the best workplace in the large category, the Great Place to Work survey showed.

McDonald’s, Ajman Police, air-conditioning company Leminar and DHL Express round out the top five best workplaces in the large category this year.

Other companies in this category include Five Hotels, UAE food delivery company Talabat, Dubai-based luxury retailer Chalhoub Group, Saudi Arabian clothing retailer Alhokair Fashion Retail and international hotel chain Hilton, the survey findings showed.

“Great workplaces throughout Saudi Arabia compete across different sectors in providing great workplace environments for all employees to ensure winning the war of local talent,” Tanzeel Rehman, managing director for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at Great Place to Work Middle East, said.

Dubai-based foreign exchange and remittance company Hadi Express Exchange was ranked the best workplace in the small category in the Middle East.

Hospitality company Oyo was ranked second in the small category, followed by recruitment consultancy Charterhouse, Saudi Arabia-based car rental company Ashjan Najd and lifestyle app Privilee.

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority is also listed in this category, the survey showed.

Top 10 best workplaces in the large category in the Middle East in 2022

  1. RICC McDonald’s
  2. McDonald’s
  3. Ajman Police
  4. Leminar
  5. DHL Express
  6. Five Hotels
  7. Talabat
  8. Chalhoub Group
  9. Alhokair Fashion Retail
  10. Hilton

Top 10 best workplaces in the medium category in the Middle East in 2022

  1. The One
  2. Dubai Police Academy
  3. Century Financial
  4. Pizza Express
  5. Metropolitan Group
  6. Cisco
  7. Global Food Industries
  8. International Beverage and Filling Industries
  9. PeroGas Piping
  10. TDRA

Top 10 best workplaces in the small category in the Middle East in 2022

  1. Hadi Express Exchange
  2. Oyo
  3. Charterhouse
  4. Ashjan Najd
  5. Privilee
  6. Alkhabeer Capital
  7. Oxford System Integration
  8. Tajalla Creative Agency
  9. Arc Solutions
  10. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
What is Reform?

Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.

It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.

Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.

After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.

Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.

The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.

The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Updated: August 25, 2022, 1:00 PM