GCC government HR summit awards more than 40 winners in Abu Dhabi

The 14th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit wrapped up in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 21, 2026, with more than 40 awards recognizing government and private-sector leaders, HR teams and youth empowerment efforts across the GCC. The event spotlighted digital HR, AI adoption, nationalisation and workforce development as the region looks ahead to a skills-based, AI-shaped future.

Why it matters: - The awards highlight how GCC governments and major employers are trying to reshape HR around talent, retention, digital transformation and national workforce goals. - The recognition spans public and private sectors, signaling that people strategy is now a core part of institutional performance, not a back-office function. - The summit put youth empowerment, women’s leadership and nationalisation on the same stage as AI and workforce automation.

What happened: - The 14th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit and Awards concluded in Abu Dhabi after two days, on 20 and 21 October 2026. - QNA International organized the summit at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl. - More than 40 awards were presented to leaders and organisations across the public and private sectors. - The event brought together government leaders, CHROs, policymakers and change agents under the theme Human Potential Unleashed, Shaping the Future Nations. - The GCC GOV HR & Youth Empowerment Awards were presented on the second day and recognised innovation in government HR, youth leadership and nationalisation impact. - The summit closed with awards after executive masterclasses on workforce intelligence, the future organisation, retention, trust and resilience. - The summit also examined human-centric government leadership, Nationalisation 2.0, Agentic AI and the skills-based organisation.

The details: - Sidh N.C., director of QNA International, said the winners showed that excellence in government HR is measured by what it delivers for people. - His Excellency Major General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer of Sharjah Police won GOV HR Visionary Leader of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - His Excellency Brigadier Abdulla Hassan Meftah Al Marzooqi of Dubai Police Headquarters won GOV HR Leader of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - Fatema Mohamed Al Nuaimi of ADNOC Gas was named CEO of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - His Excellency Major General Sheikh Mohamed Abdulla Almualla of Dubai Police Headquarters won People First Leader in the Public & Government Sector. - His Highness Captain Sultan Mohammed Abdullah Al Nuaimi of Ajman Police General Headquarters won Youth Icon of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - Lt. Col. Dr. Fatima Obaid Al Shamsi of Ajman Police General Headquarters won Woman Leader of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - Shura Council - Kingdom of Bahrain was named Employer of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - National Ambulance won Employer of the Year in the Private Sector. - Etihad Rail and the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs - Dubai were named GCC GOV HR Team of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - Apparel Group was named HR Team of the Year in the Private Sector. - Dubai Police Headquarters was named Digital HR of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - Abu Dhabi Police G.H.Q and Dubai Municipality were named Digital Transformation Pioneers of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - NATIONAL BANK OF KUWAIT (NBK) won Digital HR of the Year in the Private Sector. - MARSH won Digital Transformation Pioneer of the Year in the Private Sector. - ADNOC GAS and the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources won Agentic AI Adoption awards in the Public & Government Sector. - ADNOC OFFSHORE won Agentic AI Adoption in the Private Sector. - ADNEC Group was named AI-Driven Organization of the Year in the Public & Government Sector. - Solutions by stc received AI-Driven Organization of the Year in the Private Sector. - Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the General Pension Social Security Authority won Most Distinctive Learning and Development Strategy in the Public & Government Sector. - ADNOC Offshore won Most Distinctive Learning and Development Strategy in the Private Sector. - Dubai Public Prosecution won Best Leadership Development in the Public & Government Sector. - Solutions by stc and MATAR | Qatar Company for Airports Operation and Management won Best Leadership Development in the Private Sector. - Drydocks World - Dubai FZCO won Workforce Reskilling & Upskilling Excellence in the Public & Government Sector. - Ras Al Khaimah Police won Inclusive Talent Advancement Excellence in the Public & Government Sector. - Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority won Best Nationalisation Initiative in the Public & Government Sector. - Daman - The National Insurance Company won Best Nationalisation Initiative in the GCC Private Sector. - GCC Customs Union Authority won Innovation and Excellence in Employee Experience in the Public & Government Sector. - Misk Foundation won Innovation and Excellence in Employee Experience in the Private Sector. - Department of Human Resources Ajman won Organisation of the Year for Best Happiness Initiative in the Public & Government Sector. - Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank won Organisation of the Year for Best Happiness Initiative in the Private Sector. - Dubai Chambers won Best Employee Benefits and Wellbeing Strategy in the Public & Government Sector. - Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank won Best Employee Benefits and Wellbeing Strategy in the Private Sector. - DMCC was named Best DEI & B, Reward & Recognition Champions. - Shade won Excellence in Resilience and Coexistence in the Private Sector. - EDGE Group and Dubai Municipality won Organisation of the Year for Youth Empowerment in the Public & Government Sector. - MASDAR won Organisation of the Year for Youth Empowerment in the Private Sector. - SHEIKH SAUD BIN SAQR AL QASIMI FOUNDATION FOR POLICY RESEARCH and Ajman Police General Headquarters won Women Empowerment honours in the Public & Government Sector. - Zain Group won Women Empowerment in the Private Sector. - The summit paid tribute to Advisory Board members H.E. Dr. Tayeb Kamali, H.E. Mohamed Al Marzooqi, H.H. Captain Shaikh Abdulaziz Sultan Al Nuaimi, H.E. Shaika Rana bint Isa bin Duaiji Khalifa, Maitha A. Balfaqeeh and Reem AlRehali. - More information on the summit and awards is available at the summit website.

Between the lines: - The award mix shows a broad push to connect HR with national priorities, especially talent localisation, digital government and employee experience. - The strong presence of police, oil and gas, transport, municipalities and financial institutions suggests HR reform is being treated as a cross-sector competitiveness issue. - The repeated emphasis on AI and skills-based organisation points to a regional workforce agenda that is trying to balance automation with retention and human development.

What's next: - The summit’s stated focus on the decade ahead suggests more discussion of agentic AI, workforce intelligence and nationalisation strategy is likely at future editions. - The awards create a benchmark for GCC organisations looking to compare HR, learning, wellbeing and digital transformation practices across sectors. - Organisers positioned the event as a continuing platform for government HR and youth empowerment leaders in the region.