Abu Dhabi to Host 11th Future of HR & L&D Summit and Awards on November 12

Abu Dhabi to Host 11th Future of HR & L&D Summit & Awards as UAE Accelerates AED 13 Billion AI & Human Capital Transformation

As Abu Dhabi rapidly expands its knowledge and innovation economy across strategic sectors including advanced technology, financial services, logistics, renewable energy, and healthcare, human capital has emerged as the single most critical growth engine. Against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027 – a landmark AED 13 Billion investment driving an AI-ready public and private ecosystem – the Influence Exchange Group (IXG) is proud to announce the 11th Edition Future of HR & L&D Summit & Awards, taking place on 12 November 2026 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Anchored by the theme ‘From Capability to Consciousness: The Next Evolution of HR & L&D,’ this benchmark summit convenes over 200 C-suite executives, CHROs, Chief People Officers, Chief Learning Officers, and senior people leaders representing the region’s primary growth industries. With 95%+ of Abu Dhabi government workforce having completed comprehensive AI training under the Department of Government Enablement, and over 25,000 employees covered under the new 2026 Human Resources Law, the summit addresses an urgent mandate: How do organizations transition from traditional HR operations to high-impact human capital strategy?

Key Summit Themes & Strategic Pillars

• AI & Human Capital Transformation: Redesigning workflows, roles, and organizational structures as Agentic AI becomes embedded in core enterprise operations.
• Emiratisation & National Talent Development: Building sustainable Emirati talent pipelines, early-career career pathways, and aligning workforce planning with national vision.
• Continuous Learning & Leadership: Transitioning from traditional compliance training to dynamic corporate academies, personalized learning, and executive coaching at scale.
• Employee Experience & Wellbeing: Evolving organizational cultures to foster emotional resilience, psychological safety, belonging, and high performance.
• People Analytics & HR Tech: Leveraging predictive workforce intelligence, automated compliance, and automated talent decisioning to maximize ROI.

Distinguished Industry Visionaries Featured

The 11th Edition summit features an exceptional lineup of regional visionaries driving enterprise change, including:

• Akbar Khan (Head of Learning, Employee Experience & Talent Management, Al Tayer Motors)
• Michael Noel (Vice President Talent & Engagement, Mubadala Energy)
• Carola Tibbe (Chief People & Culture Officer, Welfare Group)
• Mira Zakharia (Corporate VP Talent & Culture, Rotana Hotels)
• Huda Al Abbar (HR Director, Department of Finance – Dubai Government)
• Najib Makarem (Group CHRO, National Holding)
• Haitham Akl (Executive Director People & Organization, SSMC)
• Kifaya Thallam (Executive HR Advisor – CHRO)
• Mansour Al-Abdulrahim (Talent Management Director, RER)
• Neha Khicha (Director HRBP – Europe, MEA, APAC India, The Hershey Company). & more!

The summit culminates in the prestigious Awards Ceremony, celebrating exceptional individuals and forward-thinking organizations. Categories honor outstanding achievements including CHRO of the Year, HR Technology Visionary of the Year, AI in HR Innovation Award, Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion, and Best Workplace Culture Award.

MEDIA & REGISTRATION INQUIRIES

Mohamed Suhel – Speaking, Sponsorship & Event Enquiries
Phone / WhatsApp: +971 56 587 3505 | Email: mohamed.suhel@influenceexchangegroup.com
Official Website: influenceexchangegroup.com