Dubai Airports recognised among world’s top workplaces in 2026
Artificial intelligence tools reshape training and talent development strategy
DUBAI – Dubai Airports has been named a 2026 winner of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, placing it among a select group of global organisations with the highest levels of employee engagement.
The recognition reflects the airport operator’s continued focus on workforce development and organisational culture across its operations. The company achieved a 74 percent employee engagement score, rising from 71 percent in 2025, and now ranks in the 77th percentile of Gallup’s global benchmark.
The results are drawn from one of the most extensive workplace datasets, featuring 27.6 million respondents across more than 200 countries, compiled by Gallup.
Rising engagement
The latest recognition marks a second consecutive win for Dubai Airports and makes it the only airport included in the 2026 list of award recipients. The improvement in engagement reflects a steady upward trend within the organisation, which has consistently invested in leadership development and employee experience.
????For the second year in a row, @DubaiAirports has been named a @Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner????
— Dubai Airports (@DubaiAirports) May 11, 2026
Measured against 27.6 million respondents across 6,473 organisations in 221 countries, we ranked in the 77th percentile worldwide for employee engagement, with engagement… pic.twitter.com/BMSctYYEYB
The Gallup benchmark is regarded as one of the most demanding global measures of workplace performance, assessing how organisations apply strengths-based development to improve productivity and culture. The results underline how workforce engagement has become central to operational delivery at Dubai’s aviation hubs, particularly as passenger demand continues to grow across its network.
AI-driven growth
The achievement follows a record operational year for Dubai International Airport, which recorded its highest-ever annual traffic and retained its position as the world’s busiest international airport for the 12th consecutive year. According to Dubai Airports, strong workforce engagement has played a key role in maintaining service consistency and operational resilience during this growth period.
Looking ahead, the organisation is also embedding advanced technology into its people strategy as it prepares for the expansion of Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International. Artificial intelligence is being integrated into learning and development programmes, including microlearning platforms supported by AI coaching tools and simulation-based training designed to replicate real airport scenarios. Systems such as Microsoft Copilot Studio are being used to support content creation and deploy AI agents that enhance training efficiency.
Meshari Al Bannai, Chief People Officer at Dubai Airports, said the organisation’s performance is closely tied to how it develops and empowers its workforce, highlighting the link between engagement, innovation and service delivery. The company’s people strategy continues to focus on strengthening Emirati talent pipelines while building structured career pathways for both national and international employees.