Al Masaood clinches two HR key awards for its outstanding performances

Al Masaood Group won big after bagging two prestigious awards- ‘GCC HR Leader of the Year’ and ‘Best Employer Brand Award.’ The awards recognize Al Masaood’s exceptional contribution to the HR function as well as its innovative business performance.

Meiraj Hussain, the Group’s Head of HR and Corporate Services, received the ‘GCC HR Leader of the Year’ in honour for transforming the Group’s Human Resources (HR) operations to make them more responsive to the ever-changing HR and business needs. 

Hussain has almost 25 years of experience in global talent management and streamlining business processes across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2017, he joined Al Masaood to boost the business conglomerate’s efficiency through people strategies. He plays a vital role in the Group’s digital journey and optimising people strategies. Under his team are 25 talented individuals who all are working towards achieving the Group’s goals.

“Employees are an important pillar of business success. In our line of work, we recognise that our people, as much as our leaders, determine our success as an organisation. This award is not only proof of that but also a reminder of how we must continue to foster a positive work culture for our employees whose efforts and dedication form the backbone of our success. I would like to thank the organisers and the judges for the honour. I share this achievement with my team and the entire Al Masaood Group,” Hussain said.

Since joining Al Masaood, the senior leader has been implementing numerous initiatives with significant, long-term impact on the conglomerate, and has transformed the HR and 

Administration department with building a highly talented team to deliver Learning and Development, Talent Acquisition, Compensation & Benefits and HR Business Partner model, with the addition of introducing a self-service model for Administration. Hussain is the recipient of the prestigious awards given by ME Leadership Institute for Employer brand and LinkedIn. In 2021, Hussain received the Golden Visa issued by the Ministry of Economic Development for his outstanding contributions to the UAE economy. 

Al Masaood also took home the ‘GCC Best Employer Brand Award’ for successfully building a unique employer brand based on the pillars of “Talent Attraction” ‘Emiratisation,’ ‘Sports and Youth’ and ‘Community.’ These pillars reflect the Group’s commitment to the development of the national economy and local society. The strength of its brand stems from its belief that its role as a business organisation in society is not only to grow and diversify but also recognise and support the needs of the community it serves. 

On the “Talent Attraction” pillar, Al Masaood has invested in building a strong Talent Brand as an employer of choice attracting top talent from across the region. This has been achieved through effectively building and sharing our positive work culture, quality of leadership and positive employee experience all designed to build a happy workplace where high-fliers can thrive. 

On the ‘Emiratisation’ pillar, Al Masaood is committed to doing its part to increase the participation of Emirati nationals in the private sector by offering them career opportunities to work alongside professionals of different nationalities. 

The ‘Sports & Youth’ pillar seeks to help build a competitive new generation that is sports savvy and physically and mentally healthy. Under this pillar, Al Masaood aims to integrate sports as a way of life in the UAE. Under the ‘Community pillar, the business conglomerate aims to address the needs of citizens and residents within its capacity, as well as contribute to the country’s sustainable development. 

 “The two awards demonstrate how Al Masaood continues to promote collaboration across teams and departments to provide a superior stakeholder experience. Both our employees and customers are critical to our long-term success, and we aim to ensure that we consistently address their needs. The two recognitions will serve as an indicator for us to determine what 

other areas to focus on in the future for us to better respond to and anticipate their requirements and exceed their expectations,” Hussain added.