The stage is set for one of the Gulf’s most significant platforms celebrating leadership, innovation, and youth empowerment as the 13th Annual GCC GOV HR and Youth Summit & Awards, organised by QnA International, returns to Abu Dhabi. Taking place on the 22nd and 23rd of October at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl, the two-day event will once again unite visionaries, policymakers, and changemakers from across the region.
Now in its thirteenth edition, the summit has earned a reputation as a driving force for collaboration and transformation—where ideas and innovation converge to advance human potential. Under the theme “Elevating HR. Empowering Youth. Enabling Nations.”, the event will welcome an outstanding gathering of leaders who are redefining what it means to lead with purpose, inspire others, and prepare nations for a sustainable, future-ready era.
The agenda features a dynamic mix of high-level dialogues, masterclasses, and awards that will explore how the GCC is responding to evolving trends in leadership, talent development, and workforce transformation.
The summit will open with a keynote address from Chris Roebuck, the renowned Transformational Leadership Speaker, HR Hall of Fame Inductee, and ten-time HR Most Influential Thinker awardee, who will deliver insights on People Powered Government. Chris shares, “We have so much untapped potential in our people. Imagine unlocking 30% more effort from 60% of your people and boosting your bottom line by 10%—for free. I’m excited to share the key to tapping it with the GOV HR community.”
Distinguished speakers include His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Consultative Council and former UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Duaij Al Khalifa, Director General of the Institute of Public Administration, Bahrain; Her Excellency Dr. Amna Al Mahri, Executive Director of GovAcademy, Department of Government Enablement, UAE; Captain Shaikh Abdulaziz Bin Sultan Bin Abdulla AlNuaimi, Director of the Excellence Awards Branch, Ajman Police; and David Ribott, Abu Dhabi’s Top CEO Coach, alongside Advisory Board Member His Excellency Mohammed Al Marzooqi.
From AI-driven change to the evolution of people-centric leadership, this year’s conversations will bridge the gap between technology and empathy, data and purpose, youth and leadership—reflecting the human-first strategies that are shaping a new age of growth across the Gulf’s public and private sectors.
Mohammed Abdelhay, Managing Director, FranklinCovey Middle East, highlighted, “At FranklinCovey Middle East, our partnership with the 13th Annual GCC GOV HR and Youth Summit reflects our deep commitment to advancing leadership and human capital development across the region. This summit brings together forward-thinking leaders who are shaping the future of work and investing in the potential of their people. As the UAE and wider GCC continue progressing toward Vision 2030, we believe that leadership remains the most powerful catalyst for sustainable growth and transformation.”
The summit will share case studies from C level executives of GCC’s most forward-thinking organisations such as Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Qatar, Ministry of Investment KSA, Abu Dhabi Customs, Misk Foundation, ENOC, ADNOC amongst many others.
“HR must evolve from being people-centric to person-centric—putting each individual’s growth, experience, and purpose at the centre of digital transformation. Technology should humanise work, not replace it. The biggest challenges include digital readiness, skills transformation, and shifting from administrative processes to delivering true strategic value. The Summit unites regional leaders driving innovation in government and HR. ” shares Dr. Ebrahim Hasan Al Khajeh, Human Resources Director, Abu Dhabi Customs
Ibrahim Al Yahya, Director of Human Resources and Support Services at Misk Foundation, KSA, noted that “My focus at the Summit will be on anticipating and preparing for future talent needs today. The workforce of tomorrow will require new skills, mindsets, and adaptability. Organizations must begin planning now — investing in talent strategies, leadership development, and workforce transformation to ensure sustainable success in an ever-changing environment.”
The summit will culminate in the GCC GOV HR and Youth Empowerment Awards, honouring excellence in government HR, innovation, and leadership. These awards celebrate the visionaries and organisations that have redefined the meaning of public service, youth engagement, and human capital development in the region—those who continue to turn ambition into tangible impact. Hend Mahmood, CHRO at Bahrain Development Bank, emphasized that “The GCC GOV HR & YOUTH Summit and Awards stand as one of the most prestigious and influential gatherings in the region. It brings together visionary leaders, distinguished speakers, and emerging thinkers to explore the future of work, governance, and human capital. My participation is driven by the opportunity to engage with peers, exchange insights on the evolving HR landscape, and contribute to shaping discussions that inspire progress across the GCC and beyond.”
“Over the years, the GCC GOV HR and Youth Summit has evolved into more than just an event—it has become a movement dedicated to empowering people and preparing institutions for the future,” said Sidh N.C., Director of QnA International “This year’s theme speaks to the heart of transformation, where technology, talent, and purpose converge to shape nations that are not only competitive but deeply human in their approach to growth.”
The 13th Annual GCC GOV HR and Youth Summit & Awards 2025 stands as a testament to the region’s relentless pursuit of excellence and its belief that empowered people build empowered nations. As government and industry leaders converge in Abu Dhabi, the conversations that begin here will continue to shape the fabric of work, innovation, and leadership across the GCC and beyond.