UAE best places to work: These companies have the happiest employees, survey says

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THE One, Pizza Express, Century Financial and Transworld Group have topped a survey of the best workplaces in the UAE.

Out of 50 companies included in the result, they took the top spots in the Great Place to Work 2022 survey’s small to medium-sized company category.

In the large-size company category, Dubai Police Academy, Leminar, DHL Express, Hilton and McDonald’s were ranked highest in a top 20 list.

The annual report is compiled by management consultancy Great Place to Work, which compiles the survey in 60 countries.

Researchers sends out a 'trust index' to employees of companies, which measures how they are being treated at the company, if they are being fairly paid and if they feel informed about management decisions, among other issues.

This index has about 85 per cent of weight in the annual report, with the other 25 per cent is based on a survey that is sent to employers, measuring quality of leadership.

Ibrahim Mougharbel, Great Place to Work's managing director for the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, said to make it to the top of the list, a company had to excel in a number of areas.

"We have 59 statements under the trust index," he said.

"It's a ranking system, where the employees actually say if they feel involved, informed, fairly paid and treated, proud of the work they do for the company, if they feel that they have accomplished something, they're proud of it or they just feel like a number."

The survey's authors said top-rated companies focused on morale, training and learning opportunities – and injected some fun into the workplace in what was a difficult time for many workers.

Retail company THE One was ranked number one in the small and medium-size category again this year, because of its "quality leadership".

"If you ask me what's so special about THE One, their CEO, the owner of the business, is quite attentive in terms of making sure that every employee gets a great experience," said Mr Mougharbel.

"He's very interested. So, one of the key things that is so special about THE One is leadership effectiveness – that leaders are interested in their people and they put the people at the forefront of their thinking."

UAE salary guide 2022

Dubai Police Academy has moved up 13 places from last year to take top spot in the large category.

The survey's authors said: "The Academy was fully inaugurated in 1989 and has taken in students from Arabic countries such as Yemen, Oman, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories, where it continues to maintain international standards of teaching.

"Dubai Police Academy has moved up an incredible 13 ranks from last year simply by putting their people first."

Small to medium-size companies:

1. THE One - retail

2. Pizza Express - hospitality

3. Century Financial - financial service and insurance

4. Transworld Group - transport

5. Eva Interiors - professional services

6. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority - social services and government agencies

7. Hadi Express Exchange - financial services and insurance

8. Charterhouse - other

9. PetroGas Piping - industrial services

10. Metropolitan Group - property

11. Bacardi Ltd - manufacturing and production

12. Westford University - education and training

13. Blue Ocean Academy - education and training

14. DP World - transport

15. Privilee - other

16. Hill + Knowlton Strategies - advertising and marketing

17. Akamai Technologies Limited - information technology

18. Loccitane - retail

19. AbbVie Biopharmaceuticals - biotechnology and pharmaceuticals

20. Groupe SEB - manufacturing and production

21. Global Food Industries - manufacturing and production

22. International Beverage and Filling Industries - manufacturing and production

23. SARA Group - retail

24. Maersk - transport

25. MIDSTAR - agriculture

26. Amgen - biotechnology and pharmaceuticals

27. Omni Clouds - information technology

28. Zee Entertainment - media

29. Shift Electronics - electronics

30. MSD - biotechnology and pharmaceuticals

31. Marc Ellis - professionals services

32. GAC - other

33. Hilti - manufacturing and production

34. TDRA - telecoms

35. Greenstone Equity Partners - financial services and insurance

36. Aldar Khidmah - other

37. Medtronic - healthcare

38. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited - biotechnology and pharmaceuticals

39. Coberg Technologies - information technology

40. Redington Gulf - information technology

41. Aldar Education - education and training

42. Government of Sharjah - Department of eGov - social services and government agencies

43. Aldar Properties - property

44. Omnicom Media Group - advertising and marketing

45. Glander International Bunkering - professional services

46. AlphaSights - professional services

47. BDP INTERNATIONAL - transport

48. Arada - property

49. Servier - biotechnology and pharmaceuticals

50. Mohebi Martin Brower - retail

Large size companies:

1. Dubai Police Academy - social services and government agencies

2. Leminar - manufacturing and production

3. DHL Express - transport

4. Hilton - hospitality

5. McDonald's - hospitality

6. FIVE Hotels - hospitality

7. Dewa - social services and government agencies

8. Ajman Police - social services and government agencies

9. Chalhoub Group - retail

10. Al-Dabbagh Group - other

11. Apparel Group - retail

12. Talabat - information technology

13. Teleperformance - professional services

14. DHL Global Forwarding - transport

15. Dubai Customs - social services and government agencies

16. Dubai DED - social services and government agencies

17. Coca-Cola - manufacturing and production

18. Standard Chartered - financial services and insurance

19. Deloitte - professional services

20. Sewa - social services and government agencies

Tips for job-seekers

Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers Henderson, Johnstone, Pickford, Ramsdale

Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Godfrey, James, Maguire, Mings, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker, White

Midfielders Bellingham, Henderson, Lingard, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse

Forwards Calvert-Lewin, Foden, Grealish, Greenwood, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Sancho, Sterling, Watkins

MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE

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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer