WORD ON WORK - WAVE 1
The GCC People Pulse - Q2 2026
The definitive monthly measure of workforce sentiment across the GCC, powered by EXE and Ipsos Middle East.
Insights from 1,500+ employees across the GCC
Download the report
WORD ON WORK - WAVE 1
The definitive monthly measure of workforce sentiment across the GCC, powered by EXE and Ipsos Middle East.
Why this matters
The GCC workforce is unlike anywhere else in the world. Rapid transformation, evolving workforce expectations, nationalisation priorities, and the growing impact of AI are reshaping the workplace.
Yet until now, there has been no consistent, region-specific measure of workforce sentiment across the GCC.
What you'll discover
Confidence in organisational direction and how employees rate the leaders guiding them through change.
The employee experience: how people feel, connect and find meaning at work across the GCC.
Workforce stability signals and what may be driving employees to stay — or look elsewhere.
How prepared employees feel for the pace of transformation underway across the region.
Attitudes towards AI and its growing impact on roles, skills and ways of working.
The findings reveal where employees feel confident, where concerns are emerging, and where organisations may need to challenge their assumptions.
About the research
Employee Experience Exchange (EXE) is a UAE-based community and consultancy on a mission to transform society by transforming work. We believe workplaces sit at the centre of our lives – and that when people thrive at work, communities and economies thrive too. We audit, advise and partner with organisations to create employee experiences that match their ambition. We bring together HR, internal communications, culture and leadership professionals across the GCC who share a belief that work can and should be better.
Ipsos is one of the largest market research and polling companies globally, operating in 90 markets and employing nearly 19,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques.
Access the latest findings
Gain insight from more than 1,500 workers across the GCC and discover what the region's workforce is really saying about work today.
Your copy of GCC People Pulse: The Word on Work is ready.
Download the reportThe GCC People Pulse provides a regular view of workforce sentiment across the GCC, helping leaders understand what employees are really thinking, feeling and experiencing at work.
Interested in discussing the findings or learning more about the research? Get in touch with the EXE team.
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