Family-run conglomerate Al Dabbagh Group has been named as Saudi Arabia’s best workplace in the large category this year as companies in the region continue to focus on employee well-being, work-life balance and learning opportunities in the post-coronavirus era.
Luxury retailer Chalhoub Group, PepsiCo, international hotel chain Hilton and logistics company DHL Express rounded off the top five, according to a survey that was released on Friday by management consultancy Great Place to Work.
The consultancy defined large companies as those with more than 500 employees.
Other companies in the list include building and construction materials company Masdar, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Savola Foods, consulting firm Deloitte Global, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, market regulator Capital Market Authority and Apparel Group, the consultancy said.
“As a part of their organisational strategy, 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,” said Tanzeel Rehman, Great Place to Work Middle East's managing director for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
“We are very happy to see a growing awareness in Saudi Arabia in providing great workplace environments for all employees.”
The list recognised 25 large, 35 small and medium, and the top 25 micro organisations across Saudi Arabia for their efforts, the consultancy said.
Hiring in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sector in December increased at its fastest pace since 2018, driven by “robust” business activity, according to the Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia purchasing managers’ index.
The kingdom has created tens of thousands of new jobs as part of its plan to develop $1 trillion worth of new projects to meet its Vision 2030 plan of diversifying the economy away from hydrocarbons, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
Recruitment specialist Hays said in December that hiring activity in the kingdom would be highest in the manufacturing, logistics and industrial sectors.
Salaries in Saudi Arabia are expected to rise by an average of 3 per cent in 2023, driven by a surge in new jobs created by mega-projects such as Neom, as well as the setting up of operations by organisation in the kingdom, according to recruitment experts.
Flexible working will be key to retaining and hiring talent, with many professionals preferring remote work options, according to LinkedIn data.
Meanwhile, US technology company Cisco has been named as Saudi Arabia’s best workplace in the small and medium category in 2023, the survey showed.
Small companies are defined as those with between 51 and 100 employees, while medium companies hire between 101 and 499 workers, according to the consultancy.
Cargo and freight service company DHL Global Forwarding, cyber security provider Sirar by STC, medical device company Medtronic and investment group Al Muhaidib Holding Company rounded off the top five best workplaces in the small and medium category this year.
Other companies in this category include real estate developer Kinan, pharmaceutical group Servier, cosmetics company L’Oreal, Asharqia Chamber, contracting company Amaq and AstraZeneca, the consultancy said.
Biotechnology company Biogen was ranked the best workplace in the micro category in Saudi Arabia.
Chemicals company Dow was ranked second in the micro category, followed by HR software provider ZenHR and executive search firm Top Talent Solutions.
Companies that hire between 10 to 50 employees fall in the micro category.
Saudi Arabia Salary Guide 2023 — in pictures
The survey included companies in sectors such as retail, social services and government agencies, transportation, finance and media.
Companies based in Saudi Arabia 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.
Top 10 best workplaces in the large category in Saudi Arabia in 2023
1. Al Dabbagh Group
2. Chalhoub Group
3. PepsiCo
4. Hilton
5. DHL Express
6. Sami Advanced Electronics Company
7. Dar Al Riyadh
8. Masdar
9. Diriyah Gate Development Authority
10. Savola Foods
Top 10 best workplaces in the small and medium category in Saudi Arabia in 2023
1. Cisco
2. DHL Global Forwarding
3. Sirar by STC
4. Medtronic
5. Al Muhaidib Holding Company
6. Kinan
7. Servier
8. L’Oreal
9. Asharqia Chamber
10. Amaq
Top 10 best workplaces in the micro category in Saudi Arabia in 2023
1. Biogen
2. Dow
3. ZenHR
4. Top Talent Solutions
5. AlHadaya Centre
6. Trahum
7. Elevation United Property Management Company
8. Khobar Health Network – Al Kornaish
9. Air Products Qudra
10. Majd Arabia
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
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Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
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4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
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5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
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6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
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7. Limited time periods for audits
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8. Pillar 2 implementation
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9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
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10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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