Abu Dhabi wraps GCC HR and Youth Summit with more than 40 awards

Abu Dhabi closed the 14th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit and Awards with more than 40 recognitions for public- and private-sector leaders and teams across the Gulf. The two-day event focused on the future of government work, AI, localization and workforce skills, underscoring how HR is shaping national competitiveness.

Why it matters: - The awards spotlight the public- and private-sector organizations shaping the Gulf’s workforce strategy. - The summit put human capital, youth leadership and localization at the center of government transformation. - The agenda reflected where employers in the GCC are headed next: skills-based organizations, AI-enabled operations and stronger retention.

What happened: - Abu Dhabi hosted the 14th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit and Awards on Oct. 20-21, 2026, at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – Emirates Pearl. - QNA International organized the summit. - The event brought together government leaders, chief human resources officers, policymakers and change-makers under the theme “Unlocking Human Potential and Shaping the Future of Nations.” - More than 40 awards were presented on the second day. - The awards recognized public-sector innovation, youth leadership and localization impact.

The details: - Over two days, participants discussed the next decade of the GCC workforce. - Sessions covered human-centered government, leadership amid rapid change, second-generation localization, agentic AI and skills-based institutions. - Executive sessions focused on workforce intelligence and the future of organizations. - Speakers also examined retention strategies and how to build trust and resilience in volatile markets. - Sidh N.C., managing director of QNA International, said each honored organization showed that excellence in government HR is measured by real impact on people’s lives.

Between the lines: - The awards list shows a strong regional push toward digital HR, AI adoption and workforce modernization. - Multiple winners across government and private sectors suggest GCC employers are treating talent strategy as a competitive issue, not just an administrative one. - Localization, leadership development and employee experience emerged as shared priorities across institutions.

What was recognized: - Major public-sector leadership awards went to senior officials from Sharjah Police, Dubai Police and ADNOC Gas. - The Human-First Leader of the Year award in the public sector went to Lt. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Mualla of Dubai Police. - Youth leadership awards went to Lt. Sultan Mohammed Abdullah Al Nuaimi of Ajman Police and Col. Dr. Fatima Obaid Al Shamsi of Ajman Police. - The Employer of the Year award in the public sector went to the Bahrain Shura Council. - The Employer of the Year award in the private sector went to National Ambulance. - Human resources team awards went to Etihad Rail and Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in the public sector, and Apparel Group in the private sector. - Dubai Police won the Digital HR of the Year award in the public sector. - Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Municipality were named Digital Transformation Pioneers in the public sector. - National Bank of Kuwait won Digital HR of the Year in the private sector, while Marsh was named Digital Transformation Pioneer in the private sector. - ADNOC Gas and the UAE Federal Authority for Government Human Resources won Agentic AI Adoption awards in the public sector. - ADNOC Maritime won the private-sector Agentic AI Adoption award. - ADNEC Group won AI-Driven Enterprise of the Year in the public sector. - Solutions by stc won the same award in the private sector. - ADNOC and the General Pension and Social Security Authority won the most distinguished learning and development strategy awards in the public sector. - ADNOC Maritime won that category in the private sector. - Dubai Public Prosecution won the Best Leadership Development Programs award in the public sector. - Solutions by stc and Qatar Airways Group won the private-sector leadership development awards. - Drydocks World – Dubai FZCO won the workforce reskilling and upskilling award. - Ras Al Khaimah Police won the inclusive talent development award. - ADNOC and the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority won the Best Localization Initiative awards in the public sector. - Damana, the National Insurance Company, won the private-sector localization award across the GCC. - The GCC Customs Union Authority and Misk Foundation won innovation and excellence in employee experience awards in the public and private sectors, respectively. - The Ajman Human Resources Department won the Best Happiness Initiative award in the public sector. - Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank won the same award in the private sector. - The source text was cut off before the rest of the employee benefits category was fully listed.

What's next: - The summit’s takeaways are likely to feed into workforce planning, digital HR programs and localization efforts across GCC institutions. - The awards may help set the benchmark for future editions of the summit as employers race to adopt AI and skills-based operating models. - QNA International is expected to continue positioning the event as a regional forum for HR policy and leadership exchange.

The bottom line: - Abu Dhabi used the summit to showcase how government and business leaders are redefining HR around talent, technology and measurable public impact.