HR Director : UAE National-Abu Dhabi Best Jobs 2025
Job Title: HR Director – UAE National
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Human Resources
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Level: Executive Leadership
Reference: JN-082025-6811653
Help Form the Future of a Distinguished New Organisation
Are you an inspirational HR leader with strong foundations in Abu Dhabi’s public and private sectors? Do you possess the strategic and operational skills required to establish an HR function from scratch within a high-profile organisation? If so, this unique chance might write the next page in your career.
We are looking for a visionary and experienced HR Director (UAE National) to join a new, ambitious, and well-capitalized organization with its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. It is a greenfield leadership position — perfect for a mature HR practitioner who operates in high-speed environments and has a passion for innovation, national growth, and organizational excellence.
About the Organization
This organization is not only a new venture — it is a forward-looking initiative with major capital investment and national-level strategic support. With an explicit mandate to drive innovation, transformation, and sustainable growth, this entity is being positioned as a major player in defining the future landscape of the UAE and the broader region.
Working at the interface of technology, public service, and national relevance, the organization is anticipated to act as a model for excellence in governance, leadership building, digitalization, and social progress.
With its initial leadership core established, the organization now looks for outstanding individuals who not only excel at the highest levels of professionalism but who also possess the vision, cultural fit, and commitment to create something legendary from scratch.
The Role: HR Director (UAE National)
As an HR Director, you will be a strategic business partner to the executive leadership team and will be accountable for developing, driving, and transforming the entire Human Resources function. It is much more than an operations role — it’s a chance to shape culture, organisation design, workforce design, and talent development organisation-wide.
You will be accountable for developing a world-class HR function that delivers national priorities, an inclusive, high-performing culture, and digital HR leadership through the use of AI technologies to enhance processes and decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
Your key responsibilities will be but are not limited to:
Strategic HR Leadership
Formulate and implement a full-range HR strategy aligned to the organization’s mission, values, and business goals.
Act as a reliable advisor to the CEO and executive management, helping to inform the overall strategy of the organization.
Organizational Design & Workforce Planning
Direct the design and implementation of an ideal organizational structure to enable efficiency, scalability, and agility.
Design and implement workforce planning models, including talent acquisition strategies to hire top-local and international talent.
Talent & Leadership Development
Develop and manage succession planning, leadership development, and performance management frameworks to create future leaders from within.
Initiate learning & development initiatives that reskill the workforce in alignment with upcoming market and technology drivers.
Compensation, Benefits & HR Operations
Develop and administer market-driven competitive compensation and benefits schemes founded on intensive market comparable and internal fairness.
Develop strong, efficient, and digitally enabled HR operations and observance of applicable labour regulations and best practices.
AI & Digital Innovation in HR
Champion the deployment of AI and data analytics throughout the HR function for better talent acquisition, performance management, employee engagement, and decision-making.
Facilitate digital transformation of HR processes and systems to better employee experience and operational effectiveness.
Governance & Culture Building
Establish explicit HR procedures, policies, and governance frameworks as per UAE employment laws and international best practices.
Act as a steward of organizational culture, promoting diversity, inclusion, integrity, and excellence.
Candidate Profile: Who We’re Looking For
This is a UAE National-only role due to the strategic and sensitive nature of the position.
We are seeking a visionary HR leader who possesses a powerful mix of strategic insight, operational excellence, cultural intelligence, and the gravitas to lead at the highest levels.
Essential Qualifications & Experience
UAE National with an extensive network and in-depth knowledge of local HR practices, labour legislation, and Emiratization strategies.
10+ years of experience in senior-level HR leadership positions — preferably at the CHRO, Head of HR, or Executive Director levels.
Demonstrated success in developing and growing HR functions within blue-chip organisations — public sector, government-linked companies, or multinational companies.
Specialisation in organisational design, workforce planning, policy formulation, and HR governance.
Solid record in compensation & benefits planning, such as applying benchmarking tools and market analysis.
Preferred Qualities
Prior experience with Abu Dhabi-based organizations or for executing national transformation initiatives.
Visionary with the rigor to apply practical, scalable HR systems.
Understanding of HR technology platforms, analytics, and AI applications in talent management.
Proficient in Arabic and English and excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
A high degree of emotional intelligence, discretion, and capacity to function in complicated, high-stress settings.
What’s On Offer
This is not a conventional job — it’s a unique chance to be involved in shaping one of the UAE’s most promising and influential projects.
Key Benefits:
The ability to establish and direct the HR function from scratch within a high-profile organisation with a national brief.
Strategic impact on decisions that define the future of the organisation and its people.
Access to latest tools, technologies, and resources that enable innovation in HR.
An enabling and collaborative culture with robust executive support and board-level exposure.
A market-driven and compelling compensation package, including salary, benefits, performance bonuses, and long-term incentives.
The chance to build lasting difference — not only within the organisation, but for the country as a whole.
Next Steps: Apply Now-Abu Dhabi Best Jobs 2025
If you’re a UAE National HR Leader who is ready to deliver a deep impact in a highly strategic, rewarding, and prestigious position, we invite you to apply today.
Contact:
Ian Pollington
Consultant – Executive Search, Public Sector
Quote Job Reference: JN-082025-6811653
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Apply on company website
