UAE to award AED 50 million for outstanding work practices

Applications are now open for the third edition of the Emirates Labour Market Award, which celebrates outstanding work practices, recognising both exceptional private sector companies and distinguished workers.

This year, the prize money has increased to AED 50 million, up from AED 37 million in the previous edition, with a total of 98 winners set to be honoured, compared to 84 last year.

New to this edition is a subcategory under ‘Labour Accommodations’ that encourages companies to implement sustainable and recreational initiatives for workers, especially during national and Eid holidays, promoting productivity and a sense of belonging.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, for his continued support of the award, which has become a symbol of excellence in the labour market.

He highlighted that the award reflects the UAE’s leadership in global labour indicators and its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the advancement of the labour market.

The award features five main categories, with recognition for companies with exceptional human resource practices, outstanding workforce members, top labour accommodations, business service partners, and special awards for pioneering companies and influencers.

Companies and individuals interested in participating can submit applications through the official website until August 31, with winners to be announced at a ceremony in November.

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, we announce the launch of the third edition of the Emirates Labour Market Award, the first initiative of its kind in the UAE to honour… pic.twitter.com/3fJ97of9Pg

— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) April 7, 2025

The award provides several benefits to its winners. Companies securing first place will be classified in the first category of the MoHRE’s classification system and will benefit from discounts on the ministry's services, with a maximum financial savings of AED 1.2 million.

Firms securing the second place will receive similar benefits with financial savings of up to AED 1 million, while the third place companies will enjoy benefits with a maximum financial savings of AED 500,000.

All winning entities will be offered MoHRE’s Diamond tier customer service, prioritising their transactions, addressing technical challenges, and offering access to premium phone service.

For the individual awards, the first place winner will receive a cash prize of AED 100,000, followed by AED 75,000 for second place and AED 50,000 for third.

All submissions will be reviewed by specialised committees based on criteria such as employment and empowerment, occupational health and safety, creativity and innovation, talent attraction, labour relations and wages, social responsibility, and other category-specific benchmarks.