RIYADH: Saudi organizations are being urged to display their achievements in culture, mental health and wellbeing at an upcoming awards ceremony to honor those making a difference in the workplace.
The mentl awards 2025 will take place on Nov. 21 at the Address Montgomerie in Dubai.
Submissions are open to organizations from the GCC, and the deadline for entries is Sept. 30.
Last year, Saudi Arabia was recognized when the Sync Digital Wellbeing Program at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture won the national award for the Kingdom.
Reflecting on that achievement, Dr. Justin Thomas, chartered psychologist and senior researcher in the program, said: “The existence of an award ceremony honoring those who promote psychological wellbeing and mental health signals the importance we now place on such initiatives across the region.
“There was a time not too long ago when mental health was, at best, not even mentioned.”
According to Gallup’s Global State of the Workplace 2025, Saudi Arabia has an employee engagement rate (which measures the emotional connection and commitment employees have to their work and organization) of just 26 percent.
The cost of disengagement could reach an estimated $85 billion annually — the equivalent of $48.6 million every hour lost to reduced productivity and wellbeing challenges.
Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, said: “Saudi Arabia is on a transformational journey, not only in business but in how organizations care for their people.
“We know there are powerful, untold stories of leadership, innovation, and inclusion. The mentl awards are the stage where those stories can be celebrated and shared with the wider region.”
Now in their third year, the mentl awards bring together organizations from across the GCC.
With more than 40 categories, the platform covers a range of sectors, from finance, healthcare and technology, to education, retail, hospitality, and government.
Individual honors such as Empathy in Leadership and Mental Health Champion ensure leaders and advocates are recognized.
All entries are reviewed by an independent panel of leaders, including: Sir Ian Cheshire, chair of the King Charles III Charitable Fund; Dr Nahida Nayaz Ahmed, chief medical officer at Sakina; Jen Fisher, former chief wellbeing officer at Deloitte; Jessica Smith OAM, Paralympian, author and inclusion campaigner; Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, senior vice president, Dubai Science Park; Mae S. Al Mozaini, founder and CEO, The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment; Founder, The Center for Leadership; Founder, Saudi Women on Boards.
Each entry includes 12-month membership of the mentl community, providing access to exclusive events, resources, and continued conversation around wellbeing.
Saudi organizations are encouraged to enter at mentlawards.com.
