By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: Emirates Islamic, one of the leading Islamic financial institutions in the UAE, has been announced as a winner of the 2026 Inspiring Workplaces Awards and ranked among the ‘Top Ten Inspiring Workplaces’ in the Middle East and Africa region leading with PeopleFirst cultures built on trust, purpose and belonging.
Inspiring Workplaces Group recognises organisations that go beyond policies and programmes to create environments where people feel valued, included and empowered to thrive. Such workplaces celebrate culture as not just an initiative, but a strategic driver of performance, resilience and long-term success.
Emirates Islamic was ranked among organisations that represent the very best of what PeopleFirst cultures can achieve in a complex and rapidly evolving world of work. From fostering inclusive environments to prioritising wellbeing and amplifying employee voice, the accolade sets a new standard for leadership and workplace experience across the region.
Farida Mohammad Rafi, Chief Human Resources Officer at Emirates Islamic, commented: “Emirates Islamic’s achievements are rooted in the talent, resilience and ambition of its people. We view employee experience not as a collection of isolated programmes, but as an integrated and strategic priority embedded within the organisation’s culture and leadership approach. We continue to invest in building a high-performance organisation that empowers our people and strengthens our culture of agility, accountability and inclusion. Being ranked for its People-first culture in one of the most respected awards in the region positions Emirates Islamic as an employer of choice and creates an environment where colleagues can grow, innovate and thrive.”
This milestone achievement attests to the bank’s ongoing commitment to advancing growth while also empowering its workforce to achieve excellence and make meaningful contributions to the Islamic banking sector.
