Middle East HR leaders join CIPD to discuss the issues shaping the future of the region’s people profession

CIPD Chief Executive Peter Cheese recently hosted strategic roundtables in Riyadh and Dubai, bringing together HR leaders to discuss a range of topics shaping the work of the people profession in the Middle East. Participants came from both private and public organisations, with Chartered Fellows and senior leaders from the wider profession all contributing to the conversation. 

During the roundtables, participants discussed several pressing issues for organisations and the HR community in the region. Within this, four key themes emerged:  

• The need for professionalisation and continuous development to help people professionals build credibility and influence. 

• Why organisations should prioritise developing leadership pipelines alongside nationalisation initiatives such as Saudisation and Emiratisation, recognising that quotas alone aren’t enough. 

• How organisations can harness the transformative impact of technology and AI through supportive cultures that encourage learning and responsible use. 

• The growing importance of employee wellbeing in the age of AI and why organisations must embed wellbeing into their culture, using flexible work models to support resilience, mental health and employee engagement. 

Strengthening the people profession’s strategic role in the Middle East 

These events are part of our ongoing commitment to supporting HR leaders across the Middle East.  

We listen to their challenges and create space for the community to connect, network and share experiences. In doing so, we aim to strengthen the profession’s role as a strategic driver of transformation, from digital innovation to workforce nationalisation, while keeping people and wellbeing at the centre of decision-making. 

Our other ongoing initiatives across the region include: 

• Middle East People Awards: Celebrating excellence in HR practice across categories such as wellbeing, employee engagement and learning and development. 

• Newly established Saudi Advisory Committee: Launched this year, the committee provides a dedicated forum for HR leaders in the Kingdom to shape the CIPD’s agenda, aligned with Vision 2030 and nationalisation goals. It’s our second committee in the region, following the establishment of the CIPD UAE Advisory Committee in 2023. 

• Collaborations with government and industry: We continue to partner with ministries, regulators and leading organisations to advance professionalisation, support nationalisation and embed HR standards across all sectors. 

• Learning and development platforms: We’re expanding access to CIPD qualifications, continuous professional development programmes and thought leadership that’s specifically tailored to the needs of the region.