Doha:The Ministry of Labour has announced the 22 winners of the first edition of the Qatar Private Sector Nationalization Award 2026, which honors 14 organizations and eight individuals for their exceptional contributions to nationalization across nine major sectors.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani expressed pride in the accomplishments of the awardees. These achievements underscore their excellence in supporting nationalization efforts and enhancing the presence of national talent within the private sector. The award reflects the Ministry's commitment to viewing nationalization as a long-term investment in Qatar's human capital and its ability to cultivate, retain, and benefit from national talent.
HE Sheikha Najwa highlighted that human development has been a central focus of Qatar's development since the launch of Qatar National Vision 2030. The Third National Development Strategy emphasizes creating a workforce ready for the future, improving productivity and skills, and expanding opportunities for Qatari talent. She stressed that the Ministry's nationalization efforts encompass not just labor-market participation but also career development, enabling Qataris to build career paths, gain skills, advance professionally, and assume greater responsibilities. She noted the essential role of the private sector as a partner in achieving these objectives.
Assistant Undersecretary for National Manpower Affairs in the Private Sector Khames Mohammed Al Nuaimi detailed the participation levels and key results of the inaugural award edition. The award is part of Qatar's strategy to invest in national talent as a cornerstone of sustainable development and a diversified, knowledge-based economy. It promotes competition among private-sector entities and acknowledges the achievements of organizations, leaders, and innovators.
The award covers nine sectors divided into sectoral and thematic categories. Of the 426 applications, 59 percent were from individuals, while entities accounted for 41 percent. The financial services sector saw the highest participation, followed by logistics services and education. Organizations of all sizes competed based on their nationalization practices' quality and effectiveness.
The application process included eligibility screening, desk assessments, field assessments, and interviews before moving to the judging stage. This process involved 56 field visits and 59 interviews with eligible candidates. The final results were approved by the Award's Board of Trustees, chaired by HE Minister of Labour Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri.