Speaker of the Shura Council H E Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs H E Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani and Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri at the inauguration of the 2026 Qatar Nationalisation Award for the Private Sector.
Doha, Qatar: Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, the Ministry of Labour yesterday inaugurated the 2026 Qatar Nationalisation Award for the Private Sector.
The Award, established by Amiri Decree No. 27 of 2025, reflects Qatar’s steadfast vision to recognise extraordinary contributions to workforce nationalisation.
H E the Prime Minister in a post on X said: “We are pleased to launch the Qatar Nationalization Award for Private Sector at a time when we all look forward to an active role for Qatari youth in leading our national institutions, amid the pioneering economic growth our country is witnessing, growth that is built on national competencies. We have full confidence in our national talents and in the expertise they possess, which contributes effectively to the private sector.”
In his keynote address, Minister of Labour H E Dr Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, emphasised that the launch of the Qatar Nationalisation Award embodies the vision of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which recognises human capital as the nation’s true wealth. The Award highlights Qatar’s strategic foresight in translating this guidance into measurable impact on workforce development and national transformation.
Dr Al Marri underlined the importance of developing education and training systems, preparing Qatari talent for the future, and integrating them into the workforce on the basis of merit, competence, and achievement.
Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri speaking at the event.
He further stressed that recognising excellence not only rewards outstanding performance but also establishes a role model for society and future generations.
He highlighted that the Ministry of Labour continues to enhance work environments and promote active Qatari participation in the private sector.
Khames Mohammed Al Naimi, Assistant Undersecretary for National Manpower Affairs, emphasised that the Qatar Nationalisation Award represents a practical and impactful step in translating visions and policies into concrete outcomes.
He highlighted that nationalisation is no longer merely a question of youth placement. It is now a clear pathway offering genuine opportunities for growth, ambition, and leadership within the private-sector economy of tomorrow.
The Award recognises excellence across two primary categories: Institutions and Individuals, spanning nine economic sectors: Financial Services, IT & Digital Transformation, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education, Tourism, Logistics & Services, Construction, and Food & Agriculture.
Institutional Awards: Seven Core Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in National talent recruitment and employment, Graduate on boarding programmes (university and secondary), Empowering Qatari women, Flexible work patterns, Preparing future leaders, and Developing leadership skills.
27 Sectoral Awards are granted to the top three organisations in each sector, recognising excellence in recruitment, training, empowerment, work environment, and professional development.
Individual Awards: Core Individual Awards (4 winners): Outstanding Scholar, Leading Qatari Woman, Himmah Ambassador, and Professional Initiative & Innovation. Sectoral Individual Awards (27 winners): Best Qatari employee in each sector, judged on future national talent potential, exceptional competence, and leadership excellence.
The Qatar Nationalisation Award 2026 exemplifies the nation’s commitment to nurturing talent, driving sustainable development, and building a competitive, future-ready economy. It highlights Qatar’s vision for workforce excellence and empowers citizens to actively contribute to the transformation of the private sector. Strategic steps are underway to empower Qatari talent and elevate private-sector nationalisation:
Policies and programmes increase Qatari participation in the private sector, grounded in competence, capability, sustainability, and competitiveness.
The Private Sector Nationalisation Law (2024) provides a comprehensive legal framework to overcome prior challenges, incentivise participation, and enhance nationalisation effectiveness.
The National Strategy for an Effective and Highly Productive Workforce (2024–2030) sets a roadmap to raise Qatari workforce share from 17% to 20%, supported by approximately 15,400 Qatari nationals.
Partnerships with private-sector companies have already employed 7,861 Qatari citizens and children of Qatari women across diverse productive sectors.
