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
DUBAI: The Employee Happiness Awards (EHA) UAE 2026, organised by Eventyst Global, concluded its fourth and largest UAE edition at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. More than 300 guests, including business and HR leaders, finalists, independent jury members and partners, gathered to celebrate achievements in employee well-being, development and workplace culture.
The awards received more than 300 submissions across 29 company and individual categories, with over 140 company finalists. Entries were assessed by 38 independent jury members on their rationale, execution and demonstrated impact, with winners selected independently of the organiser.
The evening celebrated some of the region’s prominent organisations for their commitment to workplace excellence, with Gold recognitions awarded to Air Arabia for Best Use of Technology to Drive Learning Initiatives; EDGE Group for Best Use of Technology & AI in HR; Apparel Group for Best Internship Program; Etihad Water and Electricity for Best Company to Work For – Large; and Knowledge and Human Development Authority for Best Flexible Working Program.
Dubai Holding Community Management received Gold for Best L&D Strategy. Omair Ibrahim, Executive Director, Human Capital and Corporate Services, said: “Being recognized across four categories at the Employee Happiness Awards 2026 is a proud milestone for Dubai Holding Community Management. This achievement reflects our commitment to fostering a workplace where employees feel valued, empowered, and inspired to grow. We believe that investing in our people is fundamental to building a high-performing, future-ready organization.”
Berkeley Services UAE was awarded Gold for Best Community Impact Initiative, recognising its work on inclusion and sustainability through 14 CSR programmes.
Karl-Heinz Otto Mair, CEO, Berkeley Services, said: “We are proud to receive this recognition at the EHA UAE 2026. As a people centric business, our people are at the heart of everything we do, and their well-being remains a priority. Operating in the built environment, we touch lives every day, and through our teams, strategic partnerships and community initiatives, we strive to create a positive and lasting impact on the people and communities we serve.”
Emirates Islamic received Gold for Excellence in Emiratization. Farida Mohammed Rafi, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), Emirates Islamic said, “Emirates Islamic is delighted to receive these recognitions at the Employee Happiness Awards UAE 2026. Our achievements across the Emiratisation and Leadership Succession categories reflect our continued commitment to fostering a people-first culture at the bank.”
Reflecting on the success of this year’s edition, Jatin Deepchandani, CEO of Eventyst Global, said: “The overwhelming participation and remarkable initiatives showcased at this year’s Employee Happiness Awards reflect a growing commitment among organisations to putting people at the heart of their success. What makes this recognition truly meaningful is the dedication, innovation and measurable impact behind each initiative. As EHA continues to grow across borders, our vision remains to celebrate these achievements, inspire meaningful conversations and bring together a global community committed to building happier, more inclusive and future-ready workplaces.”
Launched in the UAE in 2023, EHA now spans Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Malaysia alongside the UAE. Reflecting the message “Celebrating People Across Borders”, the platform held its inaugural Singapore and Malaysia edition in 2026, with its second Saudi Arabia edition underway. https://dubai.employeehappiness.org/
rafiq@biztoday.news
