GCC government HR leaders to map the future of work in Abu Dhabi

Government and public sector leaders from across the GCC will meet in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 20-21 for the 14th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit and Awards. Speakers from the UAE and Saudi Arabia say the region’s workforce agenda is shifting toward impact, AI readiness, national talent development and more strategic HR leadership.

Why it matters: - GCC governments are under pressure to turn digital transformation into better outcomes for people, not just faster systems. - The summit is positioning government HR as a driver of institutional performance, national talent development and long-term public value. - The conversations point to a broader shift in the region from workforce administration to workforce transformation.

What happened: - QNA International will host the 14th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit and Awards in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 20-21, 2026. - The event will take place at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl. - The summit will bring together CHROs, people leaders, policymakers and change agents from across the GCC. - The theme is "Time of Opportunities: Uncovering the New Realities of Work." - Advisory Board members and speakers from the UAE and Saudi Arabia outlined the priorities shaping the event. - For more information, visit the summit website.

The details: - His Highness Captain Shaikh Abdulaziz Sultan Al Nuaimi said government excellence must shift from measuring volume of achievements to measuring impact, added value, anticipation and adaptation. - His Excellency Mohamed Al Marzooqi said government support services should not only do the same work faster, but do things differently and create greater value for people. - Brigadier Rashid Nasser Rashid Abdullah said government HR leaders must move from managing workforces to unlocking leaders. - Brigadier Rashid Nasser Rashid Abdullah also said institutions need to be ready for many possible futures and people who can learn, adapt and take initiative. - Dr. Ebrahim Al Khajeh said the key transition is from traditional HR to strategic workforce transformation. - The summit’s focus areas include Human-Centric Government and Disruptive Leadership. - The summit also highlights AI-First Workforce, Agentic Intelligence, Workforce Intelligence and Trust, Talent and Resilience.

Between the lines: - The leadership comments suggest GCC governments are widening the HR agenda beyond hiring and administration. - AI is emerging as a management issue, not just a technology issue, because it changes how people work, how decisions are made and who remains accountable. - The speakers also frame youth development as a capability challenge, not only a staffing challenge. - That matters for governments trying to build internal talent pipelines while keeping pace with national transformation plans.

What's next: - Organizers say the summit will give public sector leaders a venue to exchange practical insights and challenge established approaches. - Sessions will also explore how government HR can evolve into a strategic engine for institutional performance and national talent development. - The event is expected to surface ideas tied to Nationalization 2.0, Workforce 2035 and GCC Next-Gen Leaders tracks.

The bottom line: - The Abu Dhabi summit is setting up a regional conversation about how GCC governments should manage talent, AI and leadership in a faster-changing public sector environment.