Qatarisation awards took centre stage as Qatar honoured companies and individuals supporting national talent in private-sector careers. Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani presented awards at the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday. The Ministry of Labour organised the event under the patronage of Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Labour Minister Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, who chairs the award’s board of trustees, also attended. Officials recognised 14 enterprises and eight individuals for their contributions to developing Qatari talent.
The inaugural programme drew 426 applications from nine sectors, with individuals submitting 59 percent. Establishments accounted for the remaining 41 percent, Al Marri said. The ministry conducted 56 site visits to shortlisted companies and interviewed 59 shortlisted individuals. As a result, judges selected 14 enterprises and eight people for recognition. QNB earned four enterprise awards and one individual award, leading the organisation category.
However, judges withheld enterprise awards in healthcare services and manufacturing because applicants did not meet the required criteria. Al Marri said the decision protected the award’s standards and merit-based selection. He encouraged organisations in both sectors to take part in the next edition. The minister also thanked evaluation and judging panel members for maintaining neutral, independent reviews. Notably, all members of the two committees came from Qatar, exceeding the ministry’s target of 75 percent national representation.
The award builds on a wider national effort to increase Qataris’ participation in private-sector employment. Al Marri said the initiative followed years of policy and institutional development. Law No. 12 of 2024 on localising private-sector jobs took effect in April 2025. Qatar established the award in September 2025 and launched its first edition in February 2026. Since 2022, employers have hired more than 8,500 Qatari men and women, the minister said.
Meanwhile, the National Development Strategy for a Competent and Highly Productive Workforce sets targets for 2030. It aims to raise Qataris’ private-sector employment share from 17 percent to 20 percent. The strategy also seeks to add about 15,400 Qatari workers to the sector. Al Marri stressed that employers must pair recruitment with training, career development and greater responsibility. He said strong businesses and a skilled national workforce can reinforce each other.
Award recipients represented fields including education, healthcare, banking, technology, tourism and logistics. Individual winners included Ali Turki Al Subaie of Education Above All and Dana Hussein Al Ishaq of Sidra Medicine. Other honourees came from Qatar Foundation, QNB, Qatar Rail, Ahlibank, Doha Bank and Qatar Airways Group. Among enterprise winners, Ooredoo, Katara Hospitality, Hassad Food and United Development Company received sector awards. QNB also won several core enterprise honours, while Microsoft Doha, Commercial Bank, Visit Qatar and Qatar Red Crescent Society received awards in other categories.
Al Marri urged businesses and candidates to prepare for the next edition in 2028. He said Qatarisation awards should encourage stronger participation while highlighting successful approaches to hiring and developing local talent. The ministry continues work on implementation rules, incentives and support for compliant employers. The minister said the programme should help companies attract, retain and advance suitable Qatari employees. Its success, he added, depends on building expertise and lasting career paths alongside employment numbers.
