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Employee Happiness Awards UAE 2026 Celebrates People-First Workplaces at Fourth Edition
Air Arabia, EDGE Group, Apparel Group and Etihad Water and Electricity among the winners recognised for excellence in workplace happiness as the EHA 2026 celebrates its fourth UAE edition. The Employee Happiness Awards (EHA) UAE 2026, organised by Eventyst Global, concluded its fourth and largest UAE edition yet on 23 October at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. More than 300 guests, including business and HR leaders, finalists, independent jury members and partners, gathered to cel

Riya Malhotra
7 hours ago3 min read


Berkeley Services Wins Gold at Employee Happiness Awards 2026
Berkeley Services has secured Gold for Best Community Impact Initiative of the Year at the Employee Happiness Awards 2026, recognising its commitment to workforce wellbeing, community engagement and responsible business practices across the UAE. Berkeley Services has been awarded Gold in the Best Community Impact Initiative of the Year category at the Employee Happiness Awards (EHA) 2026, recognising its efforts to support employee wellbeing, community engagement and respon

Riya Malhotra
7 hours ago3 min read


Malaysia Plans RM2,500 Starting Salary Framework for Graduates
Malaysia is developing a basic salary framework starting at RM2,500 per month for graduates and semi-skilled workers, with guidelines targeted for June 2027. The initiative aims to align wages more closely with qualifications, occupational categories and professional skills. Image Courtesy: Magnific Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) is finalising a new basic salary framework starting at RM2,500 per month for graduates and semi-skilled workers, with publicatio
Palak Kataria
1 day ago3 min read


Singapore to Simplify Work Pass Applications From October 29
Singapore will introduce changes to its work pass application process from October 29, 2026, including automated passport information, simplified application forms and updated document submission requirements to reduce administrative work for employers and applicants. Image Courtesy: Magnific Singapore is set to introduce changes to its work pass application process from October 29, 2026, with improvements designed to simplify data entry and supporting document submissions.
Palak Kataria
2 days ago3 min read


UAE Pension System Earns B Grade in 2026 Global Index
The UAE has strengthened its position in the 2026 Global Pension Index, raising its overall score to 70.0 and securing A grades for pension adequacy and integrity. The improvement highlights progress in retirement security, social protection and long-term financial wellbeing. Image Courtesy: Magnific The UAE has recorded a significant improvement in the 2026 Marsh CFA Institute Global Pension Index, with its overall score increasing from 64.9 in 2025 to 70.0 in 2026. The imp
Palak Kataria
2 days ago3 min read


Nobody Trusts AI Because the CEO Said So
Why do employees abandon AI tools even after successful training? A customer care team's experience reveals that workplace AI adoption depends less on executive endorsement and more on trust, peer learning and employees' confidence in their own judgement. Image Courtesy: Preethy Suresh What a stalled rollout in one customer care team taught me about how adoption actually spreads I've been working with an e-commerce company whose customer care team used to start every mornin

Preethy Suresh
2 days ago3 min read


Aramex, WFP Unite Employees to Fight Hunger
Aramex has partnered with the United Nations World Food Programme to launch a global employee initiative, enabling teams across the Middle East, Africa and Asia to support vulnerable communities through the ShareTheMeal platform. Image Courtesy: Aramex Global logistics and transportation company Aramex has partnered with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to introduce an employee-led humanitarian initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable communities and addressing
Palak Kataria
Oct 213 min read


Infobip Appoints Mirta Pađen Lee as VP of People
Infobip has appointed Mirta Pađen Lee as Vice President of People as the company advances its AI-first transformation, placing people strategy, leadership and organisational development at the centre of its next growth phase. Image Courtesy: Infobip Global cloud communications company Infobip has appointed Mirta Pađen Lee as Vice President of People, marking an important leadership development as the organisation advances its AI-first transformation. The appointment places
Palak Kataria
Oct 212 min read


Saudi Court Reverses Salary Deduction for Disabled Employee
A Saudi appeals court has upheld a ruling cancelling salary deductions imposed on a visually impaired employee, highlighting the importance of accessible attendance systems and fair workplace policies. Image Courtesy: Magnific A Saudi Arabian administrative appeals court has upheld a ruling overturning salary deductions imposed on a visually impaired employee who was unable to register his attendance through a fingerprint-based system. The decision highlights the importanc
Palak Kataria
Oct 192 min read


Malaysia Targets 200,000 AI-Skilled Workers by 2027
Malaysia's Budget 2027 outlines plans to develop 200,000 AI-skilled individuals, train and certify 5,000 AI professionals, and support 4,000 MSMEs in adopting artificial intelligence and automation. Image Courtesy: Magnific Malaysia is placing artificial intelligence skills at the centre of its future workforce agenda, with Budget 2027 setting a target of developing 200,000 AI-skilled individuals. The initiative forms part of a broader effort to prepare employees and busin
Palak Kataria
Oct 162 min read


UAE Tops Global Workplace Trust Rankings
The UAE shares the highest position with India in Edelman's 2026 workplace trust findings, recording 88% employee confidence and a comparatively positive experience of organisational transformation. Image Courtesy: Magnific What makes employees feel confident about their workplace, particularly when organisations are introducing new technologies, evolving their strategies and reshaping the way people work? For employees in the UAE, trust appears to be a defining strength.
Palak Kataria
Oct 152 min read


Saudi Arabia Simplifies Family Entry for Professionals
Saudi Arabia has introduced measures allowing eligible skilled foreign workers to bring family members while employment visa procedures are being completed, supporting a smoother relocation experience and improved quality of life. Image Courtesy: Magnific Starting a new job in another country often means planning more than a career move. For professionals relocating with families, the timing of visas, travel arrangements and residence permits can be just as important as the
Palak Kataria
Oct 142 min read


ADREC Launches New Broker Curriculum for Real Estate Professionals
Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre has signed MoUs with Mawaheb, ThinkProp and Abu Dhabi School of Management to support broker training, certification and sector talent development. Image Courtesy: Official Communication Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre has launched the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Broker Transformation Course, a new mandatory licensing curriculum designed to upskill real estate brokers and prepare them to act as trusted advisors in the emirate’s growing real estate market.
Palak Kataria
Oct 133 min read


UAE Strengthens Oversight of Late Salary Payments
The UAE's Wage Protection System is placing greater emphasis on early alerts and timely payroll compliance, helping employers address salary delays while strengthening financial security and workplace confidence for employees. Image Courtesy: Official Communication For employees, a salary arriving on time is more than a routine bank notification. It supports financial planning, household commitments and the confidence that comes from knowing when to expect their earnings.
Palak Kataria
Oct 122 min read


When AI Gets It Wrong, Who Owns the Mistake?
Fahed Bizzari, Founder of Bellamy Alden and a leading authority in AI empowerment, examines who should take responsibility when AI-assisted work goes wrong, and why effective leadership, employee training and clear accountability matter more than simply assigning blame. Image Courtesy: Magnific When something goes wrong in work produced with AI, who's to blame? Is it the AI, the person using it or the organisation? Before I answer that, let me tell you about a 2025 court case

Riya Malhotra
Oct 94 min read


Southeast Asia Salaries Set for 5.2% Rise
Employees across Southeast Asia could see salary growth remain steady in 2027, with Aon projecting an average 5.2% increase. Vietnam is expected to lead the region, while demand for AI, data and technology talent continues to shape employers’ pay and hiring priorities. Image Courtesy: Magnific What will pay growth look like for employees across Southeast Asia in 2027? For many, the answer is steady rather than dramatic. Aon projects that organisations across Southeast A
Palak Kataria
Oct 82 min read


The HR Transformation Paradox
Jamal Elagra, Senior Advisor – Strategy & Leadership at Element MEA, explores why more HR transformation does not always produce better organisational outcomes, and why leaders may need to rethink the infrastructure beneath performance, reward, talent and technology before redesigning the processes themselves. Image Courtesy: Element MEA HR has never had more transformation activity, or less evidence that it is working. AI is entering the function, platforms are maturing

Riya Malhotra
Oct 73 min read


Gulf Workers Embrace AI, But Workloads Rise
Professionals in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among the world’s most optimistic about AI, according to Korn Ferry’s latest workforce research. But while employees report greater efficiency, many are also facing heavier workloads, raising a bigger question for employers about whether AI is actually creating better work. Image Courtesy: Magnific Employees in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are embracing artificial intelligence with some of the highest levels of optimism globally,
Palak Kataria
Oct 73 min read


Saudi Arabia Tightens Nitaqat Contract Rules
Saudi employers face tighter rules for counting nationals under Nitaqat, with Qiwa introducing limits linked to employees’ contract histories. Saudi workers must meet contract, salary and employment-status requirements to continue counting towards an employer’s Saudisation levels. Image Courtesy: Business Destination Saudi employers will need to pay closer attention to employees’ contract histories under tightened rules governing how Saudi nationals are counted within the Ni
Palak Kataria
Oct 52 min read


ENOC Opens New Employment Pathways for Emiratis
A new partnership between ENOC Group and the Ministry of Community Empowerment will connect eligible social welfare beneficiaries with employment, practical training and workplace exposure, while giving younger participants early access to career development programmes. Image Courtesy: Official Communication A new UAE partnership is looking to turn social support into longer-term employment opportunity by creating clearer pathways into the workforce for eligible Emiratis
Palak Kataria
Oct 22 min read
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