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2025 Middle East & Africa Inspiring Workplaces Winners Announced

The Top 10 Inspiring Workplaces include: Intelcia, KEO International Consultants, Sama, Globalpharma, Burson and more
World’s #1 Awards Recognising PeopleFirst Organisations
Winners and their rankings were announced at an online ceremony on June 4, 2025

Dubai – June 4, 2025 – Inspiring Workplaces Group (IW), in association with The Engage Group, announced today the Top 10 Inspiring Workplaces winners in the Middle East & Africa – recognising them as truly PeopleFirst organisations.

Unlike other awards which rely on completing a survey, entrants to the Inspiring Workplaces Awards were asked to provide proof of their investment in people by completing the entry form consisting of the six key elements IW believes are fundamental to creating a PeopleFirst culture, and by extension an Inspiring Workplace. They are:

Culture and Purpose
Leadership
Wellbeing
Inclusion
Employee Voice
Employee Experience.

The quality of submissions this year has truly elevated the standard, marking it as the strongest ever witnessed by the independent judging panel. This reflects a significant commitment from business leaders to prioritise their people and reap the well-deserved rewards. Furthermore, it demonstrates the tangible, positive change occurring in workplaces worldwide that we have seen in entries to the Awards in other regions.

Each of the six key elements were also judged separately for special recognition in each discipline.

The Top 10 winners from organisations of all sizes and industries were decided by an independent expert judging panel.

Matt Manners, Founder, The Inspiring Workplaces Group, commented: “As Inspiring Workplaces marks its 10th anniversary, we’re proud to recognise organisations that are setting the gold standard for PeopleFirst cultures. This isn’t just a feel-good approach, it’s a fundamental business strategy. With AI reshaping the way we work, companies that continue to prioritise profit over people may find themselves facing short-term wins but long-term setbacks. PeopleFirst isn’t optional. It’s essential.”

The Middle East & Africa Top 10 Inspiring Workplaces in 2025, in ranking order:

#1= Intelcia

#1= KEO International Consultants

#2 Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority

#3 Sama

#4= Concentrix

#4= Globalpharma

#5 Ooredoo Kuwait

#6 American Creativity Academy

#7 Bank of Kigali PLC

#8 The Hanging House

#9 Burson

#10 AZA Finance

Best-in-class special recognition
Inspiring Workplaces understands that the efforts made by organisations will naturally be stronger in some areas than others. So, organisations had the opportunity to put themselves forward for special recognition in each of the six key elements of the award entry.

Below is the list of organisations that sought special recognition that scored highly enough to be considered best-in-class in these specific areas of creating a PeopleFirst organisation.

Listed in alphabetical order:

Inspiring Culture and Purpose

Globalpharma

Inspiring Leadership

American Creativity Academy
Globalpharma

Inspiring Wellbeing

American Creativity Academy
Globalpharma
Sama
The Hanging House

Inspiring Inclusion

Concentrix
Keo International Consultants

Inspiring Employee Voice

Globalpharma
Keo International Consultants

Inspiring Employee Experience

Keo International Consultants
The Hanging House

2026 Inspiring Workplaces Awards open for entries soon
If you would like your organisation to have the chance of being named an Inspiring Workplace in one or across all regions (Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Europe, Latin America Middle East & Africa, North America and The UK & Ireland), visit the Inspiring Workplaces Awards and find out more.

The 2026 Inspiring Workplaces Awards deadline is February 19, 2026.

Sponsorship
There are various opportunities for organisations to partner with Inspiring Workplaces. For more information, please contact [email protected]

About The Inspiring Workplaces Group
Inspiring Workplaces is a global organisation on a mission to help businesses build, prove, and celebrate truly PeopleFirst cultures. Believing that the greatest force in business is people, Inspiring Workplaces champions cultures where belief, belonging and confidence in the future empower individuals to thrive.

Through its core programs: The Inspiring Workplaces Awards, Certified PeopleFirst™ and the free Inspiring Workplaces Community — the organization celebrates, certifies and connects leaders committed to creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and prepared for the future of work.

In a world where workplaces shape lives, Inspiring Workplaces exists to spotlight those who lead with purpose, because inspiring cultures don’t just transform business, they change the world.

Learn more at: www.inspiring-workplaces.com

About The Engage Group
The Engage Group is the Middle East’s leading employee communication agency, headquartered in Dubai. Serving clients across the region and internationally, we are dedicated to the belief that communication moves people and people move organisations. Our team combines deep expertise with a passion for crafting impactful, meaningful communication that inspires and engages employees at every level. From enhancing workplace culture to driving employee engagement, The Engage Group empowers organisations to create environments where people thrive and businesses flourish.

For more information on Inspiring Workplaces, contact:
Matt Manners
+44 (0) 7799876473
[email protected]
www.inspiring-workplaces.com
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