ASILA AL BADI (ABU DHABI)

The 13th annual GCC GOV HR and Youth Empowerment Summit and Awards concluded at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi on Thursday, celebrating regional excellence in leadership, innovation, and human capital development. 

Organised by QnA International, the summit gathered more than 300 HR leaders and changemakers from across the GCC to recognise both individuals and institutions shaping the region’s future of work.

Held under the theme “Elevating HR, Empowering Youth, Enabling Nations”, the summit aimed to highlight the Gulf region’s growing global influence in human capital transformation, bridging technology, inclusion, and purpose-driven leadership.

Captain Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Sultan bin Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Director of Excellence Awards Branch at Ajman Police, opened the ceremony with a keynote emphasising the role of youth and innovation in shaping the region’s knowledge economy.

“This platform goes beyond showcasing successful experiences – it serves as a space to exchange ideas and empower youth in line with digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the requirements of the knowledge economy,” he said.
He was awarded Youth Icon of the Year in the Public and Government Sector for 2025.

The awards recognised achievements in HR, technology adoption, diversity, sustainability, and youth empowerment, spotlighting organisations setting new benchmarks for leadership excellence.

The Crucial Role of HR in Focus

Sidh N.C., Director of QnA International, said the summit’s main objective has always been to empower the unsung heroes – the HR professionals who drive workforce development, nationalisation, youth and women empowerment, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. 

“The HR community plays a crucial role in achieving national agendas, and this platform allows them to share challenges, best practices, and the way forward. At the same time, our GOV HR Awards recognise their outstanding contributions,” he said. 

He added that this year's edition focused on the growing role of technology in shaping HR. “With digitalisation reshaping the workplace and more youth entering the workforce, there’s a need to understand their expectations and integrate digital tools effectively. 

“We’re also seeing how public sector organisations in the GCC are leading globally in agility and innovation, often surpassing their Western counterparts in building adaptive, forward-thinking workplace cultures. That’s exactly what we aim to highlight through this year’s summit.”

Among the honourees was Sarah Mohammed Rashed from Emirates Health Services – Fujairah Hospital, who received the AI Change Maker of the Year award for pioneering smart healthcare solutions powered by artificial intelligence.

In a statement, she said the recognition was a testament to the UAE’s vision and her institution’s commitment to innovation: “This award, for me and for Emirates Health Services – Fujairah Hospital, reaffirms that our leadership’s vision is becoming a reality – one that sees AI not just as technology, but as a means to build a better future for humanity, a new intellect that transforms how we think before it transforms how we work. The future will not be built by technology alone, but by young minds who use it with passion and responsibility.”

“This recognition is the result of collective effort and reflects the institution’s mindset, which has made innovation a foundation at every step toward smarter and more human-centred healthcare services. We draw from our leadership’s guidance the belief that the future is not something we wait for, but something we create – with young minds who believe in change. This award is not the end point, but the beginning of a new journey in which we continue contributing to building a digital healthcare ecosystem that matches the UAE’s ambitions,” she added.

Saudi Arabia’s presence was strongly felt with several of its leading organisations and executives taking home top honours.

Esraa Mohammed Alsharief, Executive Director of HR at a PIF subsidiary, received the HR Leader of the Year in the Private Sector award. 

“My message to anyone aspiring to lead is simple – don’t aim to be a leader, aim to learn,” she said. “Leadership comes when you’re open to exploring, learning, and making a difference every day. This award represents years of effort, success, and failure – each moment matters. It’s also a tribute to my team and organisation, whose trust and empowerment made me the leader I am today. This recognition reminds me that what we do matters – even if the impact isn’t immediate, it always comes.”

This year’s ceremony recognised exceptional achievements across HR, technology, diversity, and sustainability. 

Winners, including Dubai Municipality, ADNOC, EDGE Group, and Daman, were recognised for their contributions to youth empowerment, innovation, and workforce excellence, while Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar were celebrated for advancing digital transformation, employee wellbeing, and inclusive leadership initiatives.