Doha, October 27 (QNA) - The Ministry of Labour held the inaugural Qatarization Award in the Private Sector ceremony on Tuesday, under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.

HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al-Thani honored the winning enterprises and individuals across the award's sector-specific and cross-cutting categories.

HE Minister of Labour Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Chair of the Award's Board of Trustees, attended the ceremony, which recognized the winners' achievements and contributions to advancing Qatarization efforts and empowering national talent.

Also in attendance were HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour and Vice-Chairperson of the Award's Board of Trustees, Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani; Assistant Undersecretary for National Manpower Affairs in the Private Sector and Chief Executive Officer of the Award; Khames Mohammed Al Nuaimi, and several chief executives and officials representing relevant entities.

The recognition marks a significant milestone in the private sector's Qatarization drive, recognizing experiences that have turned national priorities into concrete measures and highlighting successful models that have strengthened the presence of Qatari talent in the workplace while expanding career opportunities, supporting professional development and fostering sustained participation across economic sectors.

HE the Minister of Labour said the inaugural edition celebrates outstanding national talent and institutional achievements, offering an opportunity to take stock of the progress made in Qatarization and assess what remains to be achieved in the next stages.

In his opening remarks, he said the award did not mark the beginning of Qatar's Qatarization drive but rather reflected an approach pursued under the country's judicious leadership. The initiative, he noted, had grown out of years of work and the development of legislative and institutional frameworks.

  HE Al Marri added that the award represents a watershed moment to assess the state of Qatarization, celebrate its foremost success stories and showcase outstanding models to private-sector enterprises and national talent. These experiences, he noted, can serve as sources of inspiration and benchmarks, prompting others to pursue greater ambition and excellence.

This edition recorded a significant level of engagement, attracting 426 applications from establishments and individuals across nine sectors, HE Al Marri said, highlighting that individuals accounted for 59 percent of submissions, while establishments made up the remaining 41 percent.

The figure reflects the vitality of Qatar's private sector, the growing presence of national talent and the commitment of institutions investing seriously in attracting and developing Qatari talent, the Minister underlined, adding that it also highlights Qatari men and women demonstrating incredible performance, leadership and innovation.

Extending these experiences beyond the initial achievers, he underscored, would establish models for other enterprises to follow and provide a source of inspiration for more Qatari men and women to build successful careers in the private sector.

HE the Minister further explained that Qatarization is rooted in building a vibrant and enduring national contribution to the economy, stressing that providing opportunities for citizens alone is not enough.

Such opportunities must be accompanied by a work environment that enables citizens to harness their capabilities, gain experience, advance professionally and assume greater responsibilities, HE Al Marri pointed out, remarking that establishments, in turn, should view national talent as a driver of growth, higher productivity and stronger competitiveness.

He added that success should not be measured solely by the number of appointments but also by the expertise, career paths and future national leaders those appointments help develop.

HE Al Marri said Qatar had taken substantial steps in recent years to build this framework, beginning with the definition of the Ministry of Labour's responsibilities and the issuance of its organizational structure, followed by Law No. 12 of 2024 on the Localization of Jobs in the Private Sector, which entered into force in April 2025.

In essence, the Qatarization Award in the Private Sector was subsequently established in September 2025 under Amiri Decision No. 27 of 2025, and its inaugural edition was launched in February 2026.

HE Al Marri said the ministry was working to complete the executive framework for the law and the Qatarization plan, including frameworks governing benefits, incentives and facilities for compliant entities, financial incentives for beneficiaries, the activation of consultative mechanisms and the completion of the regulatory instruments required for implementation.

Dr. Al Marri explained that more than 8,500 appointments of Qatari men and women had been recorded in private-sector establishments since 2022, stressing that this figure provides a foundation for further achievements rather than an end in itself.

He added that the National Development Strategy for a Competent and Highly Productive Workforce 2024–2030 had set ambitious targets to raise the share of Qataris working in the private sector from 17 percent to 20 percent and add approximately 15,400 Qatari men and women to its workforce.

The Minister stressed that Qatarization should not come at the expense of private-sector efficiency or establishments' ability to grow and compete. The ministry's responsibility, he explained, is to develop policies and support mechanisms that align Qatarization with establishments' needs and growth paths while helping them secure, develop and retain suitable national talent.

He emphasized that successful Qatarization and a successful private sector are not competing objectives; rather, each reinforces the other and supports its sustainability.

HE Dr. Al Marri noted that competition in the award's inaugural edition was intense, explaining that the evaluation process involved 56 field visits to shortlisted establishments and 59 personal interviews with shortlisted individuals, culminating in the recognition of 14 establishments and eight individuals.

HE the Minister commended Qatar National Bank Group (QNB) for its incredible performance, having won four awards in the establishments category and one in the individuals category, emphasizing that the results demonstrated what an institution can achieve when investment in national talent becomes integral to its practices and future plans.

HE Dr. Al Marri said the decision to withhold two awards in the establishments category, covering the healthcare services and manufacturing sectors, because the submissions did not meet the approved criteria, underscored the commitment to preserving the award's credibility and ensuring that recognition reflects clear standards of excellence and merit.

He expressed hope that the next edition would attract broader participation and stronger competition from establishments in both sectors.

HE the Minister extended his sincere gratitude to the members of the Evaluation and Judging panels for the neutrality they demonstrated in carrying out their duties, helping safeguard the integrity and objectivity of the evaluation process.

Dr. Al Marri explained that, when forming the two committees, the ministry had set a target of at least 75 percent national representation. The actual share exceeded expectations, reaching 100 percent- an achievement that reflects Qatar's wealth of national talent capable of managing a process of such precision and professionalism with complete independence.

Finally, the Minister urged private-sector enterprises and national talent to begin preparing for the second edition of the Qatarization Award in the Private Sector in 2028.

The list of honorees at the inaugural Award in the Private Sector included 14 enterprises and 8 individuals, in recognition of their distinction in supporting Qatarization efforts and empowering national talent in the private sector.

In the sectoral individual awards category, Ali Turki Al Subaie, of the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), received the leadership excellence award; Dana Hussein Al Ishaq, of Sidra Medicine, received the outstanding national talent award - Group 1 (5 to 10 years of experience); Haya Rashid Al Khater, of Qatar Foundation (QF), received the outstanding national talent award - Group 2 (11 to 15 years of experience); Khalid Ahmed Al Sada, of QNB, received the outstanding national talent award - Group 3 (16 years or more of experience); and Kholoud Mohammed Al Dosari, of Qatar Rail, received the future national talent award.

The Core Individual Awards also recognized Nouf Ali Al Jassem, of Ahlibank, with the outstanding scholarship recipient award; Jaber Rashid Al Marri, of Doha Bank, with the professional initiative and innovation award; and Shatha Qahtan Al Shammari, of Qatar Airways Group, with the leading Qatari woman award.

In the sectoral enterprise awards category, Ooredoo received the leading enterprise in Qatarization in information technology and digital services award; Katara Hospitality received the leading enterprise in Qatarization in tourism award; the Education Above All Foundation (EAA) received the leading enterprise in Qatarization in education award; Hassad Food received the leading enterprise in Qatarization in food and agriculture award; United Development Company received the leading enterprise in Qatarization in construction and building award; QNB received the leading enterprise in Qatarization in financial services award; and the Economic Zones Company received the leading enterprise in Qatarization in logistics services award.

By contrast, the leading enterprise in Qatarization award was withheld in both the healthcare services and manufacturing sectors because the submissions did not meet the approved criteria.

In the core enterprise awards category, QNB received the excellence in attracting and hiring national talent award; Microsoft Doha received the excellence in flexible work arrangements award; QNB also received the best new employee program for university graduates award and the best new employee program for high school graduates award; Commercial Bank received the excellence in leadership skills development award; Visit Qatar received the excellence in empowering Qatari women employees award; and the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) received the excellence in preparing future talent award.

The Qatarization Award in the Private Sector, established under Amiri Decision No. 27 of 2025, is one of the initiatives supporting the Ministry of Labour's efforts to foster positive competition, develop Qatarization practices, and cement successful partnerships with the private sector.

These efforts support the development of a highly productive labor market that is better equipped to attract and develop national talent, while strengthening the private sector's role as a key partner in developing the national economy and advancing the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. (QNA)