Deloitte’s HR team in the UAE wins double at Employee Happiness Awards

The third edition of the Employee Happiness Awards UAE took place last week, with Deloitte earning dual honours at the awards ceremony.

Held every year in Dubai, the Employee Happiness Awards UAE celebrate organisations that demonstrate excellence in employee well-being, work environments, employee engagement, and diversity & inclusion. The 2025 edition was held at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi.

Winners were announced across a range of categories, including Best Company to Work For (Edge), Best Employee Driven Business Change (Emirates Islamic), and Best Workspace Design (Oro24 Developments). Other winners included big names such as Etihad Airways, DHL Global Forwarding, Bacardi, and EmiratesNBD.

But it was Deloitte that stole the show with two awards under its belt – that of HR Team of the Year and Best Recruitment Strategy.

“We are honoured to have received these awards, which reflect our dedication to enhancing the employee experience at Deloitte as well as our unwavering commitment to our inclusive policies,” said Rana Ghandour Salhab, Managing Partner for People & Purpose at Deloitte in the Middle East.

In the UAE, Deloitte operates with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah. The firm’s fee-earners – consultants, dealmakers, accountants, auditors, tax advisor and legal professionals – are supported by the company’s HR function, which leads key people-related activities such as talent management, learning & development, career counselling, recruitment, and culture.

The Best Recruitment Strategy award lauded the firm’s approach and success in attracting fresh talent in a highly competitive talent landscape. With a workforce of over 1,200 staff in the UAE, Deloitte recruits numerous dozens of new people every year.

The HR Team of the Year award recognized the overall effectiveness, impact and innovation of the company’s HR team, as well as its ability to build a skilled and future-proof workforce.

Salhab: “At Deloitte we are committed to attracting the best graduates, nationals and experienced talent by creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.”

The two awards underpin Deloitte’s People and Purpose strategy, which is designed to provide a rewarding career with a healthy work-life balance, fostering flexibility and a sense of belonging. “We aim to build an environment where employees can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the firm, to our clients and also the wider community.”