GCCs today find themselves in a unique position. Economic diversification has opened new opportunities to experiment, leverage growing digital opportunities, and create innovative business practices. Rapidly changing skills considerations remain the lever on which long-term sustained growth of organisations and the region at large will hinge on.

While many countries are executing multi-decade strategies with a key focus on skilling, SHRPA State of HR Industry 2025 Middle East research notes that access to foreign talent remains a key to business growth. This makes total workforce planning the second biggest talent challenge with 4 in 10 companies aiming to grow their investments in hiring and upskilling in 2026.

For HR leaders this means recreating their talent strategy. One that balances their country’s vision of growth and skill development, the organisation’s need for AI-ready talent, and a multigenerational workforce’s priorities. The Middle East’s new talent strategy will need to respond to the needs of today and build for the future. AI adoption and readiness will need to be addressed at an organisational level while solving region specific skills challenges will require renewed focus on recruitment, upskilling, experience, and retention. All while evolving HR structures to better serve dynamic business needs.

Join us on this exclusive launch of the SHRPA State of HR Industry 2025 Middle East. Our discussion will help you:

1. Unpack market realities and complexities that influence talent strategy.
2. Provide actionable insights and strategies that will address ME’s skills challenge.
3. Address AI readiness and adoption gap in the region.
4. Discuss imperatives that will define HR’s competitive advantage in 2026.