IHG Hotels & Resorts Tops Middle East Employer Rankings in 2026

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 secured the #1 Best Workplace title in Saudi Arabia and earned top‑tier recognition in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

The rankings, drawn from employee surveys and cultural audits, spotlight IHG’s people‑first approach amid a period of rapid expansion in the region. In Saudi Arabia, the company highlighted its Masarona by IHG talent‑development programme—referred to by IHG as “Our Pathway” in Arabic—as a key driver of the award. The initiative, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, is designed to equip Saudi nationals with long‑term careers in hospitality.

Haitham Mattar, Managing Director for India, Middle East & Africa, said the recognition “reinforces the importance of fostering inclusive, high‑performing environments that enable our teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences and support our owners.” Maher Abou Nasr, Managing Director Saudi Arabia, added that the accolade confirms IHG’s commitment to nurturing local talent and contributing to the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions.

IHG’s Gulf growth strategy rests on a portfolio of 17 hotel brands and a global network of more than 6 800 hotels, with an additional 1 800 properties in development. The company employs roughly 350 000 people worldwide, underscoring the scale of its workforce initiatives. In the Middle East, IHG’s expansion is closely tied to rising tourism demand, especially in Saudi Arabia where the government has broadened visa policies and promoted leisure destinations as part of Vision 2030.

The 2026 Great Place to Work rankings also reflect IHG’s broader focus on wellbeing, leadership development and engagement across both its hotel and corporate teams. The company’s investment in programmes such as IHG Academy and learning pathways is positioned to support the region’s ambitious hospitality targets, including the opening of new hotels and the delivery of high‑quality guest services.

Overall, the awards signal that IHG’s people‑centric culture is a competitive advantage in a market where talent attraction and retention are critical to sustaining growth. The recognitions are expected to reinforce the company’s brand as a desirable employer and to support its continued expansion across the Middle East.