MENA Finance Director HR Pulse Survey 2025

The intersection between finance and human resources is increasingly shaping the future of organizational growth in the MENA region. In this pulse survey, ANC Global explores the evolving priorities, persistent challenges, and emerging strategies that Finance Directors in MENA face when navigating human capital complexities.

The survey draws from responses gathered from 142 Finance Directors across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Bahrain, with organizational sizes ranging from 200 to over 5,000 employees.

Key Objectives

Identify the most pressing HR challenges faced by finance leaders.
Understand their level of involvement in people strategy.
Highlight opportunities for integrated HR-finance alignment.
Project future workforce trends and transformation goals in MENA.
Analyze country-specific workforce trends, HR technology gaps, and integration strategies.
Provide recommendations based on ANC Global’s consulting frameworks and proven tools.

Key Insights and Findings

Top HR Challenges Finance Directors Face

HR Challenge	% of Finance Directors Affected
Talent Acquisition & Retention	78%
Workforce Planning & Cost Control	65%
Employee Productivity & Engagement	59%
Aligning HR Strategy with Business	55%
Skills Gaps and Capability Building	48%
Compensation & Benefits Clarity	44%

Finance Directors in MENA overwhelmingly cited retention of high-potential talent as their #1 concern, particularly in rapidly growing sectors like logistics, fintech, and construction.

Country-Specific Notes

UAE: 83% cited difficulty retaining high-potential expat talent post-pandemic.
Saudi Arabia: 75% concerned about nationalization targets and the need to develop local leaders quickly.
Egypt: 64% emphasized rising labor costs and turnover in tech and banking sectors.
Qatar & Bahrain: Focused on capability-building and long-term workforce planning in infrastructure and logistics.

Related solution: ANC Global Succession and Bench Assessments (SABA)

HR-Finance Alignment Still Emerging

While 68% of Finance Directors in MENA are “highly involved” in workforce budgeting, only 32% are engaged in strategic HR planning, highlighting a clear disconnect between operational oversight and proactive workforce strategy.

Interpretation

Finance leaders are often brought into the conversation after HR decisions are made, limiting their ability to influence cost structures, talent pipelines, and skills development early on.

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Pain Points in HR Technology & Data

Challenge	% of Finance Directors Affected
Limited Access to Real-Time HR Analytics	54%
Inaccurate or Inflexible Workforce Forecasting	39%
Lack of AI-Driven HR Decision-Making Tools	77% (only 23% currently using AI)

Country-Based Insights

UAE & Qatar: Faster adoption of HR tech, but integration with financial systems remains poor.
Saudi Arabia: Large enterprise CFOs express concern over legacy systems blocking real-time reporting.
Egypt: Budget constraints limit access to cutting-edge HR tools in mid-sized firms.

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What’s Working Well? Positive HR Outcomes Reported

Success Area	% Reporting Positive Outcomes
Compensation Planning	47%
Leadership Pipeline Development	41%
Onboarding of Senior Leaders	36%
Mental Health & Employee Well-being	33%

Highlight

Mental health is a rising concern—especially in high-stress industries like oil and gas, banking, and tech—leading to an increase in finance-sponsored well-being programs.

Dive into: ANC Global’s Employee Mental Health and Psychological Safety

Future Projections: The HR-Finance Outlook (2025–2027)

Investment Area	% of Finance Directors Planning to Invest
AI-driven HR analytics and cost forecasting tools	61%
Leadership development for finance-business integration	53%
Strategic workforce planning solutions	46%
Organizational restructuring and right-sizing initiatives	44%
Neurodiversity and inclusive workplace design	26%

Country Highlights

UAE & Saudi Arabia: Leading in AI adoption for workforce analytics and DEI programs.
Egypt: Planning increased investment in leadership development due to upcoming generational leadership transitions.
Qatar & Bahrain: Emphasizing restructuring and organizational agility to support Vision 2030-style reforms.

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Strategic Recommendations for Finance Leaders

Deepen HR-Finance Collaboration: Engage in talent strategy beyond headcount approvals.
Integrate Financial & People Metrics: Use dashboards that connect revenue per employee, turnover risk, and engagement data.
Focus on Capability Building: Finance functions must cultivate leadership skills to collaborate cross-functionally.
Prioritize Long-Term Workforce Planning: Move beyond reactive hiring to succession strategy and skills mapping.
Embrace Tech and Inclusion: Allocate budget for AI, automation, and DEI to attract and retain next-gen talent.

How ANC Global Can Empower Your Business

Finance Directors across MENA are evolving into strategic co-pilots of human capital transformation. As workforce challenges grow in complexity, the integration of financial acumen with talent strategy will define competitive advantage.

At ANC Global, we help finance and HR leaders speak the same language—of value, capability, and growth.

Get Started Today

Are you ready to unlock your business’s full potential? Let ANC Global be your trusted HR partner. Our innovative, practical, and sustainable HR solutions are designed to help you overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive: Get in Touch.

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