UAE jobs and salaries: survey ranks top companies to work for in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah

THE One, DHL and Chalhoub Group were among employers included in the study by consultancy Great Place to Work

Staff from home retailer THE One smile as they arrive for work in this file image. The company has been a top ranked workplace in recent years. The National

DHL was second as the logistics company was praised for its commitment to well-being during the pandemic. Antonie Robertson / The National

Chalhoub Group's Level Shoes luxury shoe department in Dubai Mall. The company, which has its origins in Syria and Lebanon but has become a household name in UAE, has been based in Dubai since 1990. Alamy

Home-grown brand Five - known for its hotels' party atmosphere and influencer clientele - has become a major success story for Dubai. With two properties in the city - on the Palm and in Jumeirah Village - it has plans for a third in Zurich. Courtesy: Five Palm Jumeirah

A concierge welcomes guests at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island. The American hotel chain puts a strong emphasis on service and encourages its staff to be friendly, chatty and personable. Courtesy: Hilton

Dubai Police are known the world over for their supercars and start-of-the-art gadgets. Now, they've been recognised as one of the best places to work. Reem Mohammed / The National

Shubham and Xieraili (L) chat at financial services broker Century Financial's offices in Emaar Square. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Staff at Splash sort clothes on rails. The group was one of several major retailers to be recognised for valuing staff well-being. Lauren Lancaster / The National

Language coach Jichao Zhang teaches Chinese to an officer at Dubai Police Academy. As one of the most visible police forces in the Middle East, Dubai Police must train its officers to handle everything from road traffic and crowds of tourists to major sporting events and heads of state visits. Satish Kumar / The National

Aldar's iconic headquarters in Abu Dhabi's Raha district. The company is a major employer and a household name in the Emirati capital. Victor Besa / The National

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Furniture chain THE One, logistics firm DHL and fashion giant Chalhoub Group topped a survey of the best workplaces in the UAE.

The trio were named in a list of the 45 best employers in the Emirates.

Five Hotels, Hilton hotels, and Dubai Police were ranked fourth, fifth and sixth.

Century Financial, retailer Splash, Dubai Police Academy and Abu Dhabi developer Aldar Properties rounded out the top 10.

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

Ibrahim Mougharbel, managing director for the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, said the best employers had managed to strike a balance between "preserving business continuity and maintaining employee well-being" in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Ultimately, protecting businesses also meant protecting employees," he said.

"And protecting employees was not an easy task during a pandemic.

"Our heroes, however, boldly stood by their employees and provided them with the needed mental, physical and financial support."

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.

"Organisations this year also built upon a sense of belonging," they wrote.

"When everything seemed to be at risk, employees were made to feel comfortable with their choices.

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The National's salary guide for 2021

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"The stability that was granted to them throughout the pandemic provided them with the chance to get inspired and grow mentally, as well as physically, while seeking to uphold the success of their work-life/personal-life balance."

Among the top 45 workplaces were many retailers and shopping centre stores – who by and large faced a torrid year of stop-start closures and a shift in consumer habits.

Such companies relied on face-to-face interaction with customers once measures were lifted, keeping employees motivated and positive.

Among the retailers listed was Babyshop, Homebox, Emax, Shoexpress, Homecentre and Centrepoint.

The only medical provider in the top 45 was Saudi German Hospital, at No 45, while the Government of Sharjah's eGov department was among the biggest public sector employers listed, in addition to Dubai Police.

The full list:

1) THE One - retail

2) DHL Express - transport/logistics

3) Chalhoub Group - retail/hospitality

4) Five Hotels - hospitality

5) Hilton - hospitality

6) Dubai Police - social services/govt agency

7) Century Financial - financial services and investments

8) Splash - retail

9) Dubai Police Academy - social services/govt agency

10) Aldar Properties - construction and real estate

11) Cisco - information technology

12) Sara Group - retail

13) Bacardi - consumer goods

14) Leminar Group - industrial services/engineering

15) General Mills - manufacturing and goods

16) Yum! Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell) - F&B

17) Babyshop - retail

18) MSD Pharmaceuticals - biotech and pharma

19) International Beverage and Filling Industries (Star juices) - F&B

20) Homebox - retail

21) Pizza Express - F&B

22) AbbVie Pharmaceuticals - biotech and pharma

23) Emax - retail

24) Max - retail

25) Glander Bunkering - industrial services/ oil & gas

26) Shoexpress - retail

27) Shoemart - retail

28) Apparel Group (Aeropostale, LC Waikiki, Aldo and others) - franchise/retail

29) Westford University College - education

30) Al Dabbagh Group (Gulf General Cooperative Insurance) - financial services and insurance

31) Homecentre - retail

32) SAS UAE - IT

33) Global Food Industries (Al Areesh/Al Ameer) - food products

34) LGT Middle East - private banking

35) Lifestyle - retail

36) Centrepoint  - retail

37) Amgen - biotech and pharma

38) ZEE TV - media/television

39) Grohe - bathrooms and kitchens

40) Shoemart - retail

41) Shift Electronics - retail/goods

42) Teleperformance UAE - professional services/outsourcing

43) Government of Sharjah Dept of eGov - social services and govt

44) Servier - biotech and pharma

45) Saudi German Hospitals - healthcare