10th Indian Delegation to Dubai, Gitex & Expand North Star – World’s Largest Startup Investor Connect
Event

HR TECH MENA Summit all set to celebrate its 10th year in Dubai this week with HR Guru Chester Elton

The countdown begins for the highly anticipated 10th Annual HR TECH MENA Summit, set to unfold on February 20th and 21st at the JW Marriott Hotel Marina in Dubai. This milestone event marks ten years of dedication to transforming businesses through cutting-edge HR technology solutions and shaping the trajectory of the future of work.

This year’s summit, led by HR guru Chester Elton, promises a transformative experience for 400+ pre-qualified HR and tech professionals. He has been pronounced ‘Apostle of Appreciation’ by Canada’s Globe and Mail, ‘creative and refreshing’ by the New York Times, ‘an influential voice in workplace trends’, among many other accolades. 

Heexpresses his enthusiasm for the summit, stating, “I’m thrilled to join the HR TECH MENA Summit and connect with leaders sharing innovative ideas. Most importantly, I look forward to gaining fresh insights and sharing how to build and sustain an engaged, enabled, and energized workplace culture–where people believe what they do matters, that they make a difference, and their efforts are recognized and rewarded.”

The keynote speech insists on highlighting humanizing technology in the future of work, where attendees can expect to glean knowledge on turning workplaces into joy zones, building meaningful connections in a working environment, fostering a profound sense of belonging, and making work matter.

The summit features a main stage session on Day 1 dedicated to ‘Decoding Digital Transformation and Leadership in the Future of Work.’ Day 2 introduces two parallel sessions, with Stream 1 focusing on the value of work wellbeing and the ‘EX-Factor,’ while Stream 2 delving into AI, analytics, and digital transformation.

The event boasts over 40 thought leaders and industry speakers, from top organisations including Dubai Government Human Resources (DGHR), Misk Foundation, Abu Dhabi Customs, Aramco, Coursera, ENOC, FAB and many others. Leading international and regional experts  supporting Middle East organisations in their HR transformation such as Qualtrics, The Talent Enterprise, Akrivia HCM, Coursera, Ingentis, mesh.ai, Right Selection amongst others are supporting the summit, contributing to its success as a crucial platform for CHROs and HR leaders in navigating disruptions in the industry effectively.

The event promises an ‘Infinite Leap into the New HR TECHXperience’ with industry thought leaders that are revolutionising work places, opportunities to find the right technology partner, forge lifelong partnerships, hear regional case studies, and gain practical takeaways and actionable applications of how HR technology can support better workplaces!

Over 400 renowned HR and technology thought leaders, subject matter experts, and solution providers will converge to inform, impact, inspire and innovate! For over nine years, C level executives from some of the largest and most forward-thinking organisations from the Middle East have trusted this exclusive gathering of CHROs and digital transformation experts to shape the future of work.

by Vivek Kumar

Alfa People assists employees with everyday tasks and all corporate activities. It’s a product with both web and mobile versions, as technologically advanced as the bank’s mobile app for customers. Employee convenience is first priority. Alfa Bank doesn’t just create a high-quality product — Alfa People allows users to seamlessly switch between multiple roles throughout their entire career. First, candidates experience digital hiring with zero office visits through the life time in the company. This initial touchpoint with the HR product shapes their impression. After joining the team, employees gain full access to Alfa People services. When they become managers, they can access management tools without switching windows, all within the same familiar interface. If a new business need arises, the team can adapt the business process to fit the unified HR Tech platform, and a new service appears in Alfa People. To ensure the product meets employee needs, the bank collects Voice of Employee ratings after each service interaction.
 AI-Powered Culture
 At Alfa Bank, any employee can gain fundamental skills for working with artificial intelligence. For example, you can take a course at Alfa Academy or join a working group focused on AI implementation within your team. If desired, you can build an entire career development path around this trending technology right at the bank: find like-minded colleagues and work together to introduce real innovations into a top-tier product. Tech Services and AI Applications for Every Employee
 In 2025, Alfa Bank launched the Alfa AI service based on the Alfa Gen platform. It brings seven leading neural networks into a familiar, user-friendly interface —right inside Alfa People. Any employee can start a chat with a neural network in just a few clicks to solve work-related problems or tackle any task. Alfa AI offers both internal and external AI models. Internal models operate within the bank’s secure environment and can safely process sensitive data without leaving the bank’s infrastructure. External models connect for tasks that don’t involve confidential information, leveraging the capabilities of leading AI platforms. This approach strikes a balance between security and AI efficiency.
 Built-in applications help newcomers with repetitive processes: drafting emails, analyzing files, creating images and etc. Employees can also write custom prompts for their specific needs, quickly create AI applications without coding skills, and share them with colleagues. All of this comes with no restrictions: no need to set up or renew subscriptions, learn new applications, or pay for tokens. Alfa AI is available to all employees from day one, with no requests or approvals required. AI for Efficient Recruitment 
One of Alfa Bank’s goals is to hire the best talent on the market. It’s especially challenging to quickly fill mass vacancies, such as contact-center or product delivery specialists. AI helps here too. Machine learning models rely on the profiles of successful Alfa Bank employees and identify suitable candidates from fields not typically associated with banking. The referral program is enhanced by an AI agent that scans uploaded CVs and suggests relevant Alfa Bank vacancies …

by Vivek Kumar

W7Worldwide proudly announces that Abdulrahman Inayat has been recognized as PR Leader of the Year at the prestigious Athar Festival 2025, in a category presented in association with the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) — the global representative body for PR associations and consultancies. Representing the world’s leading PR consultancies and national associations across more than 80 countries, ICCO serves as the global voice of the public relations industry. This recognition underscores Inayat’s exceptional leadership and W7Worldwide’s continued contribution to advancing the communications landscape across Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and international markets. “This achievement is not only personal; it reflects the collective dedication of our W7Worldwide team and the transformation we are witnessing across the Saudi communication landscape,” said Abdulrahman Inayat . “We are proud to contribute to shaping a globally competitive PR industry that mirrors Vision 2030’s ambition and creativity.” This honor adds to a recent series of distinctions recognizing Abdulrahman Inayat’s leadership in the communications sector. He was previously elected Chairman of the Regional Board of the International Public Relations Network (IPRN) for the Middle East and North Africa. He also made history as the youngest board member of PRCA MENA and was presented with the Outstanding Leadership Award, further underscoring his influence across the regional marketing and communications landscape. Meanwhile, W7Worldwide has received over 30 awards in recent years across local, regional, and global platforms, being recognized among the leading communications consultancies in the region. “Abdulrahman’s recognition as PR Leader of the Year exemplifies the excellence and ambition driving the Middle East’s creative marketing and communications community forward,” said Ian Fairservice, Chairman of Motivate Media Group and Festival Co-Founder. W7Worldwide has evolved into one of the region’s most respected homegrown communications consultancies, earning international acclaim for its strategic thinking, innovative storytelling, and deep cultural understanding. The agency continues to lead the way in positioning Saudi and MENA communications excellence on the global stage. About W7Worldwide W7Worldwide is a homegrown, award-winning communications consultancy known for its strategic insights, thought leadership, and culturally grounded storytelling. With a proven track record of partnering with more than 100 clients across diverse sectors, the firm has built deep expertise in reputation management and strategic communication, helping organizations strengthen trust and visibility. Operating across the MENA region and international markets, W7Worldwide continues to elevate Saudi communications leadership on the global stage.

by Vivek Kumar

The inaugural edition of CARE (Climate Action, Renewable Energy & Sustainability) forum series by Trescon, is set to become the MENA region’s most influential platform for sustainability investment and climate innovation. The forum will unite regional and global leaders driving the Middle East’s clean energy transition. Co-located with DATE, a Digitization, AI & Emerging Tech Summit, CARE MENA will take place on 26-27 November at the iconic Madinat Jumeirah. “With the GCC committing billions to renewable infrastructure, CARE MENA offers a unique, action-oriented platform where capital meets climate ambition,” said Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO, Trescon. He continued, “From solar and hydrogen to green finance and industrial decarbonisation, the series will spotlight investable opportunities that support net-zero goals and drive regional climate action.” Talking about the series, Jens Y. Zimmermann, President, Orios Venture Partners, said, “Looking forward to CARE and learning more about new developments, trends & investment opportunities in climate & renewable energy.”  For start-ups, scale-ups and climate tech ventures, CARE MENA is a launchpad and a great opportunity to secure investments.  “I’m looking forward to CARE as a platform to uncover investment opportunities in climate tech and renewables,” said Kevin Holliday, CEO, Venturebeam. Ahmed Refaie, CEO & Global CIO, G.P.I. Global Partners Investments Limited said, “CARE gives an opportunity for climate finance and investment practicing professionals to deploy capital in an environmentally impactful and responsible way.” Whether seeking Series A investment, strategic partnerships or market access, participants will gain direct exposure to venture capital firms, institutional investors, family offices, and sovereign funds. Backed by some of the region’s most prominent investors — from the Royal Group and Sharjah Investment & Development Authority (Shurooq) to ARM Holding, Venturesouq, Plug and Play, and others — CARE MENA is set to spark high impact collaborations. Talking about the opportunities at CARE, Sofia Kostiunina, Managing Director, 100VP commented, “From the VC perspective, I see CARE as an excellent platform to identify breakthrough opportunities in renewable energy and climate tech.” Flagship initiatives include: CARE ESG Awards, hosted by Trescon and supported by ESG MENA, will also spotlight and celebrate the “Responsible Investor of the Year” and the “Young Sustainability Pioneer of the Year”. Sessions at the summit will explore regulatory reform, capital flows and technology deployment, with a sharp focus on commercial viability and regional scalability. With the help of its sponsors including Emtribe, Cero Hero, Enjazponic, S&P Global and others, CARE MENA will also feature investor roundtables, pitch sessions and partnership forums — ensuring that conversations lead to commitments. For founders, it’s a chance to pitch to decision-makers. For corporates, it’s a front-row seat to the next wave of green innovation. And for investors, it’s access to the region’s most promising ventures and infrastructure projects.