How Al-Dabbagh Drives High-Impact Culture Through The Great Place To Work® Trust Index™
Al–Dabbagh Group uses the Trust Index™ Survey to back its commitment to sustaining a people-first culture across 22 countries. Great Place To Work® Certified™ since 2019, the survey helped measure and track improvements in their people experience, such as supporting engagement, diversity and sustainable wellbeing.
Meet Al-Dabbagh Group
Employees
25,500 Saudi Arabia-based Employees
Industry
Investment Management
HQ Location
Saudi Arabia
Customer Since
2019
Hi, I’m Dalal Bahareth, the communications manager at Al-Dabbagh Group. I’ve been part of the group for over three years, and I’ve seen firsthand how deeply our culture prioritizes people over profits. Our work environment is shaped by a philosophy we call Omnipreneurship, a homegrown framework created by our Chairman Amr Al-Dabbagh, built around the principles of giving, earning, and sustaining.
Key Outcomes
2025 recognitions: #1 in Greater China, #2 in Bahrain, #3 in Germany
A diversity and inclusion policy is in place, which increased inclusion rates from 18% in 2021 to 30% in 2024.
Designed with Great Place To Work®, with the goal of assessing adaptability and applicability of Omnipreneurship values within the organization. In 2024 the score rose to 89% with participation from over 11,600 colleagues.
A sense of pride and purpose runs deep at Al-Dabbagh Group. Colleagues are consistently encouraged to connect with the organization’s broader impact on society, beyond business.
Why we partnered with Great Place To Work®
We began our partnership with Great Place To Work® in 2019, which we regarded as a natural extension of our Omnipreneurship philosophy, driven by our commitment to build a workplace culture that mirrors cornerstone values like integrity and respect. For this endeavor, we embraced the Trust Index™ Survey not only to quantify our colleagues’ experiences but to reinforce our commitment to sustainable growth in our environment, this partnership is not merely a destination, but a continuous journey. where we ensure our work environment is consistently upholding the same threshold of Great Place To Work® internationally recognized benchmarks.
“We needed to embrace the Trust Index™ and align with Great Place To Work® global standards… to ensure that our work environment remains among the best, by both internal and international benchmarks.”
Dalal Bahareth, communications manager at Al-Dabbagh Group
Challenge
Addressing workplace realities, including diversity rates, engagement and sustainable colleague wellbeing.
It is very important to us that we build a consistently positive and inclusive work environment, we want to continue to enhance colleague engagement. We want to support diversity, and we also aim to ensure sustainable colleague well-being. We were convinced that we needed reliable data, clear direction, and continuous accountability.
Solution
Great Place To Work® Trust Index™ Survey analysis and reporting
Every July, we align globally with Great Place To Work® to run our Trust Index™ across the group. Whether it’s a colleague in China, Mexico, or Saudi Arabia, everyone is invited to share their voice. We make full use of the Emprising™ platform, pulling reports segmented by location, gender, age, and more, to deeply understand what’s working and what needs attention. And we don’t just keep those insights on file. Every quarter, our subsidiaries present their survey findings and action plans to the Chairman, the CEOs, and CHROs during our Omnipreneurship Council. That level of transparency ensures that improving our culture stays a shared responsibility.
Outcome
Elevating wellbeing as a core component
As part of the “Sustaining” principle in Omnipreneurship, we built a wellbeing framework that’s holistic and practical, spanning five areas: health, social, community, financial, and career well-being.
This translated into a wide range of programs:
- Go Walk, Get Fit, Smoke-Free for physical health
- Omni Breakfasts, Fun Day, and anniversaries to build social connection
- Community drives like blood donations and giving-back initiatives
- Loan policies that support financial wellbeing, including gifts and celebrations for colleagues who get married or welcome a new baby.
One thing we’re particularly proud of is our head-to-head meetings, where every colleague gets a chance to meet with the Chairman, talk, and be heard. That simple act of being listened to, goes a long way.
Pride and Purpose
99% of colleagues at Al-Dabbagh Group report a profound sense of pride. This sentiment is rooted in our group’s vision to be a positive global corporate citizen delivering impact for the greater good. We do not see community contribution as a separate CSR activity but embed sustainability and community impact into every business decision.
The sense of purpose is cultivated through our Omnipreneurship culture, encouraging colleagues to see their work as part of something larger, creating value not only for our business units but also for society and the planet. Our ecosystem inspires innovation and responsibility, aligning with both professional and personal growth through collective impact.
Diversity and Inclusion Policy
Our diversity and inclusion policy aims to create a fair and inclusive workplace that promotes personal and professional growth while leveraging diverse capabilities. From day one of our diversity program, we increased gender diversity from 18% in 2021 to 30% in 2024.
Philanthropy University and Omni Leaders Program
We empower our people with tools to drive impact.
Philanthropy University offers courses in project management and digital fundraising, helping colleagues connect their skills and development to social impact.
We also launched our Omnipreneurship Values Training, inaugurated by the Chairman. The four-hour Zoom sessions reached over 1,500 colleagues across 88 sessions, with a 99% satisfaction rate and 100% achievement of learning objectives.
A culture that honors the whole person
We also try to make sure that everyone is aware that personal goals matter. For example, personal life plans can include how many books you want to read every quarter, or if you want to learn a new language, or you want to pick up a new skill, and these personal diaries become professional diaries that we share with each other, and it becomes a bonding experience. So for example, I might share that I finished my tenth book for the year and someone else might get inspired and say ‘I will do twelve’.
The Omnipreneurship Index: Co-Creating a Culture with Great Place To Work®
Chairman Amr Al–Dabbagh’s Omnipreneurship philosophy is the backbone of Al–Dabbagh Group’s leadership philosophy, built on three pillars: giving, earning, and sustaining. It challenges us to lead with purpose and to consider the impact of our work beyond immediate business results.
In 2023, we partnered with Great Place To Work® to create the Omnipreneurship Culture Index, assessing cultural alignment through nine categories including integrity, respect, passion, and teamwork. Participation grew from 8,000 colleagues in 13 languages in 2023 to 11,600 in 2024, with an improved score of 89%.
“Our work culture is really deeply rooted in a people-first philosophy that prioritizes colleagues over profits. We use this approach to foster open communication, mutual respect, and a strong sense of belonging across the organization.”
Dalal Bahareth, communications manager at Al-Dabbagh Group
What’s next for Al-Dabbagh Group
Looking ahead, our focus is on sustaining our reputation as both a leading employer and a purpose-driven organization. We’re doubling down on embedding our Omnipreneurship culture across all our verticals, not just as a philosophy, but as a way of working and leading.
We’re committed to delivering an unparalleled colleague experience, with a strong emphasis on wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion. Our ambition is clear: to be among the top three Great Place to Work® global companies by 2030 through our Three by ’30 mission. This goal is shaping how we evolve culturally, where we invest strategically, and how we continue building an environment where every colleague feels valued, heard, and empowered.
Advice to Organizations Looking to Build a High-Trust Culture
Building a high-trust culture doesn’t happen overnight. It takes consistent values, transparent leadership, and genuine commitment to people. Trust starts with intention and leaders must be honest, open, and approachable so colleagues feel safe to speak up and bring their full selves to work.
Transparency matters. When people understand company goals and how their own work fits in, they feel connected and respected. We create that clarity through surveys, focus groups, and head-to-head check ins that give space for honest dialogue. We also continue to promote open and honest dialogue through our Omnipreneurship Council, our Sustainability Council, and our Innovation Council. Trust also grows where we invest in people by supporting their growth, encouraging personal life plans, and treating them as more than a job title. That is what transforms a workplace from functional to exceptional.
The Great Place To Work® Journey
Our journey with Great Place To Work® has affirmed that it all begins with trust. This partnership helped us strengthen our culture, celebrate what we’ve built, and stay committed to what matters most: putting our people first. Recognition like #1 Best Workplace in Saudi Arabia, and global rankings in China, Bahrain, UAE, Vietnam, UK, Turkey, and Germany, reflect the collective effort of every colleague across our group.
Products and features used
Trust Index™ Survey
Our rigorously developed employee survey is the global standard for quantifying the ROI of workplace culture, leadership impact, and measuring the employee experience.
Great Place To Work® Certification™
Certification gives employers a recruiting advantage by providing a globally recognized and research-backed verification of great employee experience.
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