Employees in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are expressing high levels of pride in their work and organizations, yet many feel improvements are needed in engagement, recognition, and leadership support. 

The ‘2024 Workplace Culture Report,’ released by the workplace culture consultancy together, reveals that more than two-third (84%) of employees across the two nations take pride in their work and companies, reflecting a strong alignment with organizational goals.

The findings emphasize the importance of recognition, accountability, and achievement in shaping workplace culture and driving organizational success. These factors align with national visions such as ‘We the UAE 2031’ and Saudi Vision 2030.

Key motivators for employees include accountability (28%), achievement (26%), and commitment (25%), underscoring a strong dedication to delivering quality work and meeting responsibilities.

These motivations are reflected in workplace dynamics, with 33% of employees reporting a sense of Achievement and 25% citing customer satisfaction as key drivers of pride in their work. Additionally, 59% expressed high confidence in their employer’s market position, fostering trust and optimism about the future.

Despite these positive indicators, the report identifies critical areas for improvement, particularly for middle managers. This group faces the most significant engagement challenges, with 30% reporting “control” as a negative workplace experience.

Gaps in coaching, mentoring, and employee fulfillment also emerged as key challenges, highlighting the need for organizations to better support middle managers in leading and recognizing their teams.

Lucy d’Abo, Chief Executive Officer of together, said: ” While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution – each company has unique challenges and opportunities, this report highlights some common themes. However, we do encourage organizations to identify their own tailored metrics and take a data-driven approach to enhance culture and engagement.”

The report underlines additional challenges. 67% of employees feel performance evaluations are unfair, while 40% believe their leadership does not care about them. Although 72% report a sense of belonging, only 37% would recommend their employer as a great workplace.

Recognition also emerged as a significant gap, with one in three employees desiring it but none ranking it among the top 20 workplace experiences. Additionally, work-life balance continues to be a pressing concern, with one in four employees citing it as a future cultural priority.

Sarah El Ashmawy, Culture Consultant at together, remarked, “This report explores the shifting priorities of working individuals today, highlighting that recognition and flexibility are among the fast-growing critical drivers of employee satisfaction.”

“By focusing on these priorities, businesses in the UAE and Saudi Arabia can unlock higher levels of employee engagement, foster innovation, and contribute to national growth agendas,” she added.