The programme continues to grow each year, with more organisations, more countries and more sectors represented across the region. This year, we’re also introducing new categories and a more streamlined entry experience shaped by feedback from people professionals.
We launched the Middle East People Awards in 2019. Since then, they’ve become a trusted way to recognise excellence in people management and L&D across the region. Each year, we see more entries from across the region, a clear sign of a profession growing in influence and ambition.
Entries come from aviation, financial services, energy, FMCG, healthcare, government and professional services, among many other industries across the region. They span both public and private sectors, showing how diverse people practice is across the Middle East.
The 2026 edition opens on 20 May, aligning with International HR Day — a moment that celebrates the profession and the people driving progress in workplaces across the region.
We’re celebrating work that is principles‑led, evidence‑based and outcomes‑driven — initiatives that create meaningful, measurable impact for people, organisations and the communities they serve.
“Every day, people professionals are making work better across the Middle East. These awards honour that commitment and the impact it creates.”
The programme evolves every year based on feedback from entrants, judges and the wider profession. For 2026, we’ve introduced:
These updates strengthen the awards while keeping the core focus the same: recognising world‑class people practice that delivers real impact.
To help entrants prepare strong, compelling submissions, we’re hosting two free entry clinic webinars. Sign up here:
These sessions will walk you through the entry process, explain what judges look for, and offer practical guidance on presenting evidence and impact clearly.
They’re open to all entrants and designed to give you the clarity and confidence you need to submit your best work.
“As a returning sponsor, we are proud to support an awards programme recognised across the Middle East for its prestige and uncompromising standards. It’s an honour to stand behind a platform that sets the benchmark for excellence in our region.”
To express your interest in joining us as a strategic partner, please visit our website for more information or reach out to awards@cipd.ae.
Make sure you don’t miss key dates, announcements or programme updates. Register your interest to receive awards‑related content directly to your inbox and stay connected throughout the 2026 cycle.
If you have any questions about the awards, reach out to us at awards@cipd.ae.
In this guest blog for International HR Day 2026, Margareta Nikolovska, Senior Human Capital Development Expert, ETF Agency of the European Union, explores how continuous learning and upskilling are the backbone of performance, innovation and productivity.
As distractions multiply and cognitive load intensifies, even well-designed training can fail to translate into improved performance. So what really determines whether learning sticks? How can organisations create the conditions that enable learning to be applied, sustained and embedded in everyday work.
From structures to processes to people, organisations undergo frequent change, and in today’s context, often with increasing complexity. But what role can L&D play, better positioning them as operational partners of change?
