Dubai has been selected to host the inaugural Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Business Culture Awards, one of the world’s leading recognition platforms for workplace excellence. The launch marks a major step in positioning the emirate as a hub for organisational innovation, talent, and sustainable growth.
Since 2016, the MENA Business Culture Awards have highlighted more than 400 winning case studies from 48 countries, honouring global names such as Sony Music, Standard Chartered, Volkswagen Group, and Cathay Pacific. The MENA edition, set to culminate in an awards gala on 12 May 2026, will extend this legacy by providing organisations across the region with a platform to benchmark their cultural practices against international standards.
“Business culture is no longer a soft metric; it is a strategic driver of growth,” said Cath Longfield, Co-Founder of the Business Culture Awards. “In the UAE and MENA region, culture is central to attracting and retaining top talent, particularly in markets defined by diversity, innovation, and ambitious national visions.”
The programme will feature 28 award categories, mirroring its UK counterpart, and is expected to draw more than 40 organisations in its first year. It will also highlight pressing workplace challenges identified by recent studies, including low employee engagement, high attrition rates, and mental health concerns across the GCC workforce.
The MENA programme will be delivered in partnership with TKOP World LTD, led by Premal Patel, Managing Partner of Business Culture Awards MENA. “Dubai is the natural home for the Business Culture Awards,” said Patel. “Our goal is to spotlight organisations that not only succeed commercially but also create cultures that empower people and contribute to the region’s sustainable development.”
The initiative has already secured partnerships with firms such as MCA Gulf, Amani AlKundi Advocates, and Alignifi, with more expected ahead of the January 2026 entry deadline.
By bringing the awards to Dubai, the organisers aim to reinforce the UAE’s leadership role in shaping the future of work, while providing regional companies with a global stage to showcase their achievements.
