IHG Hotels & Resorts Named Top Employer Across the Middle East in 2026 Great Place to Work Rankings
On 23 June 2026, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced that it has been named a top employer across the Middle East in the 2026 Great Place to Work rankings. The company captured the #1 Best Workplace title in Saudi Arabia and earned top‑tier recognition in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan, with further placement in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
The rankings, compiled from employee surveys and cultural audits, reflect IHG’s people‑first approach amid a period of rapid expansion in the region. In Saudi Arabia, the group’s Masarona by IHG talent‑development programme—referred to in Arabic as “Our Pathway”—was cited as a key factor. The initiative is designed to help Saudi nationals build long‑term careers in hospitality and aligns with the country’s Vision 2030 goals of diversifying the economy and increasing local employment.
IHG operates more than 6,000 hotels worldwide and employs roughly 350,000 people globally, according to the group’s 2025 corporate data. The Middle East remains one of IHG’s most important growth markets, with new properties opening in major cities such as Riyadh, Dubai, and Doha. Company leadership has said that attracting, developing, and retaining talent is fundamental to delivering on its expansion commitments and supporting the region’s tourism targets.
In Saudi Arabia, Masarona is part of a broader strategy that includes IHG Academy and other learning and development opportunities. The group reports that nearly 50 % of its workforce in the Kingdom is Saudi—a figure that has risen steadily since the programme’s launch. The initiative aims to create meaningful career pathways for local colleagues and to strengthen engagement, wellbeing, and leadership at all levels.
The Great Place to Work rankings also highlighted IHG’s inclusive culture and high‑performing environments across the other Middle Eastern markets. In Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan, IHG was listed among the top employers, while the company received recognition in Kuwait and the UAE. These placements underscore IHG’s commitment to fostering environments where colleagues can thrive, build long‑term careers, and contribute to the success of the business.
The recognition comes at a time when the hospitality sector in the Middle East is expanding rapidly, driven by growing tourism and investment in infrastructure. IHG’s focus on talent development and employee wellbeing is positioned to support the region’s broader economic diversification efforts, particularly under Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to increase the contribution of non‑oil sectors to the economy.
IHG’s Managing Director for India, Middle East & Africa, Haitham Mattar, said the company is proud of the culture its colleagues have created. Managing Director Saudi Arabia, Maher Abou Nasr, added that being named the #1 Best Workplace in the Kingdom reflects the strong culture the teams have built together. The company’s senior leadership has reiterated that its people‑first culture remains a competitive advantage as it continues to expand and strengthen its presence across the region.
The 2026 Great Place to Work rankings provide a snapshot of IHG’s current standing as an employer of choice in the Middle East. The company has not yet announced specific next steps, but it has indicated that it will continue to invest in talent development, leadership pathways, wellbeing, and inclusion to maintain and improve its workplace culture.
