Middle East

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have reaffirmed their close strategic partnership following the fourth meeting of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council, co-chaired by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in Manama.

The meeting was held in line with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, underscoring the long-standing political, economic and social ties between the two neighbouring countries. Senior officials and heads of joint committees from both sides attended the session.

At the start of the meeting, Prince Salman bin Hamad welcomed the Saudi Crown Prince, highlighting the strength of bilateral relations and the deep bonds between the two leaderships and peoples. Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his pleasure at visiting Bahrain and meeting with King Hamad and the Bahraini Crown Prince, stressing King Salman’s continued support for strengthening cooperation and expanding joint action across a wide range of sectors.

The meeting was marked by the signing of a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at deepening collaboration in key strategic areas. These included an MoU on nuclear safety and radiation protection between Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission and Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment, as well as a cooperation programme between the two countries’ diplomatic studies institutes.

Economic cooperation featured prominently, with agreements signed on the avoidance of double taxation, the promotion and protection of competition, sustainable development cooperation, and the promotion of direct investment. Additional MoUs were concluded covering rail transport cooperation, higher education partnerships between King Saud University and the University of Bahrain, and collaboration in developing the non-profit sector.

Together, the agreements reflect a broad and integrated approach to bilateral cooperation, spanning energy, environment, education, transport, investment, diplomacy and social development. They also align with both countries’ national development priorities and long-term economic diversification strategies.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman thanked Prince Salman bin Hamad for the warm reception and the effective organisation of the council session, praising the constructive outcomes achieved. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the distinguished Saudi-Bahraini partnership and expressed their shared aspirations for continued security, stability and prosperity.

The two leaderships also extended their appreciation to committee members, the Executive Committee, the General Secretariat and working groups for their efforts in supporting the council’s work. It was agreed that the fifth meeting of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council will be held in Saudi Arabia, with the date to be determined by the council’s general secretariat.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new health screening mandate that significantly expands requirements for employee fitness examinations, as part of wider efforts to strengthen workplace health and safety.

The Regulation for Occupational Fitness Examinations and Non-Communicable Disease Screening came into force earlier this year and requires employers to provide both physical and psychological examinations for all new hires, as well as for many existing employees.

The regulation is designed to improve overall employee health, reduce occupational health risks and ensure workers are medically and psychologically fit to perform their roles.

Under the new framework, occupational fitness examinations must be carried out before employment begins for all new employees. Employers are also required to arrange examinations during employment in specific situations, including after a work-related accident, when an employee returns from extended sick leave, or when changes occur in the working environment or new equipment is introduced.

Employees in high-risk professions must undergo periodic assessments, with the frequency determined by the nature of their work, while examinations are also required after the end of employment for workers who may have been exposed to hazardous materials.

In addition to standard medical checks, the regulation stipulates that fitness assessments should include psychological evaluations, screening for chronic diseases and, where necessary, additional specialised tests linked to the employee’s occupation. These measures reflect a broader focus on non-communicable diseases and mental wellbeing as part of occupational health management.

The regulation also places new obligations on employers where an employee’s capacity to continue in their current role has declined. In such cases, employers are required to support continued employment by offering alternative duties, facilitating rehabilitation, or making adjustments to working hours and conditions, rather than terminating employment outright.

For employers, the changes mean policies and procedures will need to be reviewed to ensure compliance. The regulation expands existing medical examination requirements for foreign workers, who make up the majority of the private-sector workforce, beyond the pre-employment checks already required as part of the work visa process.

Periodic medical examinations have long applied to certain high-risk occupations, and government data indicates that 32% of private-sector employees underwent such assessments in 2024.

The new mandate signals Saudi Arabia’s intent to embed preventive healthcare more deeply into workplace safety systems, aligning employee wellbeing with broader occupational health and safety objectives.

At a recent session at the HSE MENA 2025, anticipation grew as Islam Adra, Vice President of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) at DP World, took the stage.

An accomplished leader who has worked for several Fortune and FTSE 100 companies, he currently steers the safety agenda at one of the world's largest logistics companies.

Adra's session offered the latest, evidence-based insights into leadership within HSE, a theme central to his illustrious career and recent doctoral research.

The heart of Adra’s introduction lay in sharing his professional journey. As a newly minted PhD, former Chair of IOSH in the Middle East (2019–2020), and a seasoned educator and advocate, Adra has been unwavering in his mission to elevate standards and promote a culture of care across industries.

His philosophy, encapsulated in the “Care to Lead” programme, is rooted in the conviction that effective leadership in safety is as much about empathy and advocacy as it is about regulation and compliance. For Adra, promoting HSE isn’t merely a job role; it is a calling, driven by humility and a deep commitment to safeguarding lives and wellbeing within challenging environments.

In a move designed to both engage and challenge, Adra introduced a riddle to the audience, posing a sequence of numbers and inviting the room to guess the next in line. This interactive moment was not merely a test of wit, but an invitation to collaborative thinking, underlining the importance of collective intelligence in solving complex safety challenges. With humour and encouragement, Adra created a space that promoted participation and sharpness of mind, qualities that are indispensable in safety leadership.

While the session promised to unveil ground-breaking research and practical insights, Adra’s introduction reflected the enduring qualities of effective HSE leaders: expertise, adaptability, and an unwavering focus on not just rules but on people. In a world where safety challenges evolve rapidly, leaders like Islam Adra are guiding the frontier with knowledge, humanity, and a vision that genuinely cares to lead.

In a thought-provoking presentation at the HSE MENA 2025 conference, Ian Welsh, Head of QHSES and Special Projects, laid out a vision for improving operational Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) compliance across the MENA region.

Drawing on his decade-long career in Australian construction, followed by years of leadership in the United Arab Emirates, Ian emphasised the critical need for authentic leadership and tailored coaching in the quest to elevate safety standards in a rapidly developing environment.

Ian began by underscoring an oft-overlooked truth: everyone in the field – regardless of title – plays the role of a health and safety leader. The challenge, he argued, lies not just in adhering to technical standards, but in influencing a diverse workforce, much of which arrives from neighbouring countries with minimal HSE exposure. Rather than adopting a punitive approach, Ian called for empathy and cultural understanding, highlighting that many workers are adapting to higher safety standards for the first time.

Central to his strategy was a three-pronged approach: coaching HSE staff, fostering meaningful engagement with the workforce, and ensuring operational practicality. Ian’s method moves away from mere instruction and compliance. Instead, he champions authentic leadership that is present, empathetic, and invested in the growth and effectiveness of HSE professionals. “If a craftsman wants to do good work, he must first sharpen his tools,” he quoted, reinforcing the need for continuous development of the people on the ground.

A significant portion of Ian’s remarks reflected findings from his recent MBA research dissertation, which surveyed and interviewed HSE professionals across the region. He identified a pronounced gap: while HSE managers and officers understand their technical duties, they often struggle to align these tasks with broader corporate objectives. Moreover, most operational HSE professionals lack access to strategic leadership and effective coaching, leaving them isolated in demanding environments.

Ian’s answer lies in servant leadership, a model where leaders support and develop their teams by example, providing individualised guidance and public recognition for achievements. He highlighted the importance of adapting safety practices to operational realities, especially in fast-paced sectors such as construction and event management. “A safe running project,” he remarked, “is a fast-moving project.”

The ripple effect of such leadership, Ian argued, extends well beyond immediate teams. By empowering HSE professionals and engaging workforces respectfully, companies elevate not only internal standards but contribute to the regional adoption of best practices. Ian closed by urging continued dialogue and feedback, inviting attendees to participate in an anonymous survey to share their perspectives, thus fostering an ongoing culture of improvement in MENA’s HSE landscape.

At HSE MENA 2025, held in Dubai, Ihab Al Bairam, AVP Community Management, DAMAC LOAMS, gave a presentation on ‘From compliance to commitment: empowering leaders to shape a proactive safety culture.’

Al Bairam began by highlighting some of the characteristics needed for safety leadership, emphasising the importance of mindset and ownership. In fact it was these qualities that had led him to be promoted from facilities management engineer to his safety leadership role. Safety leaders should also have the ability to transfer the culture of health and safety throughout the organisation.

“Safety is not a policy, it’s a mindset,” he said, stressing the importance of ensuring that the culture of safety as a priority needs to be clearly developed within the organisation and within the core team.

“Once you have that, you need to drive it by showing how the safety culture will benefit your organisation,” he went on. For example, by reducing incidents, motivating employees, improving performance and enhancing efficiencies by making processes leaner and more proactive.

“This will help to justify your operations and processes to the board as well as your team on the ground. It is critical for there to be an understanding of the benefits and drive behind the safety culture which you are trying to establish within the organisation. “

Establishing such a culture is a collective responsibility, he went on. “You can’t act like a one-man show, you need a team behind you which believes what you are building and trying to drive within the organisation. Each team member should have his role, responsibility and accountability for you to achieve your targets.”

Driving the safety culture

Elaborating on the role of safety leadership, Al Bairam went on to highlight four elements needed for a leader to be able to drive the safety culture. The first is to have a vision and mission, the second is to be a role model, who is visibly developing the health and safety culture within the organisation. Third is the need to ensure that rules and responsibilities are made clear throughout the organisation “so each team member knows his responsibilities, what he needs to do, where he needs to act and how he should perform to ensure that health and safety along with day-to-day operations is running smoothly.” Fourth is open communication and reporting. “Your door should be open for team members to report both big and small things. That way, they feel their concerns are acknowledged and listened to.

“Safety culture is not about health and safety processes and procedures, it’s around how we should develop the culture within our team and our organisation,” he stressed.

For the safety culture to be disseminated throughout the organisation and to all its stakeholders, key factors needed are leadership commitment, training and awareness, accountability and transparency of communications, keeping up with technology and market developments, recognition and rewards, continuous learning, development and improvement of processes.

Empowering teams

Al Bairam went on to discuss how to build and improve safety culture across the organisation.

“We need to ensure we are empowering our operations team – not the managers and engineers but the supervisors, workers, technicians, cleaners, security; those are the people who are our eyes on the ground,” he said.

Speaking about DAMAC Properties he said, “Today we are managing around 100 builds across Dubai, and the main eye we have is the security. If I didn’t empower the security to take the right decision, if I didn’t providing them with the training and the processes, our health and safety would collapse. A small fire could spread within minutes if the security didn’t know how to act. The same thing if the cleaner saw the fire and ran away without reporting it.

“Empowerment is not just about delegating responsibility, we need to give guidelines, tools and training on how to act in an emergency.”

He also highlighted the need for integration between operations and health and safety, which can be built through strong processes across the teams, and collaboration and trust between the operations and health and safety teams. “Our organisation has this integration in its DNA,” he said.

“Now we understand health and safety culture and how it should be developed within the organisation, to get to the next level, we need to have a proactive mindset,” he continued.”To develop this we need to encourage open discussion and ensure that near misses are given as much attention as accidents and incidents. Training and continuous learning will also help the team to think proactively to prevent failures.”

Giving more insight about how to empower teams, Al Bairam gave the example of the issue of a work permit, which does not necessarily need to be issued by the health and safety expert, but can be issued by the technician on the ground if he is trained and empowered to do this. “This can happen if you have the right health and safety culture and the leader who is empowering the staff to have the health and safety culture within their organisation, where all the employees within the organisation act like a health and safety officer. We can have this by having training, setting accountability rules and responsibilities, having a proper process and encouraging open communications allowing them to raise their questions and concerns without hesitation.”

On recognition he said, “We need to see the technician the cleaner, the security who is actively protecting our assets to be recognised.”

Finally he stressed that the health and safety leader should push hard to ensure that his function is regarded as a key role rather than a support function, by demonstrating the benefits he brings to the organisation.

“You need to push yourself as a main and core key player within the organisation to have the health and safety culture run across the operation.”

Qatar’s Ministry of Labour has conducted a series of roundtable meetings with key stakeholders from the construction sector and beyond, in an initiative aimed at enhancing workplace safety standards, according to Health and Safety International.

The sessions brought together representatives from Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI), government entities, civil society organisations, employers, workers’ representatives, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Senior officials attending included undersecretary H E Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani and assistant undersecretary for Migrant Labour Affairs H E Hamad Faraj Dalmouk, alongside several departmental directors.

Central to the discussions was the development of safe and supportive working environments for construction workers, with a particular focus on wellbeing. The initiative aligns with Qatar’s efforts to meet the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and related Sustainable Development Goals.

The meetings, reported by Health and Safety International, focused on enhancing dialogue and exchanging ideas on issues affecting the construction sector. Discussions included national labour laws, international standards, and strategies for improving occupational safety and health, alongside strengthening workers’ rights.

Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani emphasised that the roundtables reflected Qatar’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships, sharing global expertise, and advancing labour policies in line with international standards. She noted that the participation of senior officials, experts, and social partners, alongside BWI representatives, provided opportunities to explore innovative solutions to the sector’s challenges.

Key topics addressed during the sessions included labour legislation, occupational safety and health standards, and methods to create a fair and sustainable working environment. The discussions underscore the central role of Qatar’s construction sector in the country’s development agenda and its significance in supporting the state’s major infrastructure and development projects.

By facilitating such engagement, the Ministry of Labour aims to drive improvements in occupational safety, strengthen workers’ rights, and promote a safer and more productive construction sector across the country.

• Topic: HSE
• Region: Middle East
• Date: 22nd December 2025
• Year: 2025

After introducing new licensing requirements for workers in energy and mining, the Oman Ministry of Labour has now urged "all establishments to expedite compliance with the licensing requirements" ahead of the end of the 'correction period', which ends on June 1st, 2026

A notice issued on the Oman Ministry of Labour's website established the list of 43 relevant professions that must adapt to new licensing procedures. From June 6^th, 2025, new work permits will not be issued to those without licenses.

Among the listed professions is HSE Advisor, Forklift and Excavator Operator, Vehicle Marshaller and Lifting Supervisor. A full list can be found on the Oman Ministry of Labour guidance.

During the correction period, work permits may be issued and renewed even if workers have not yet applied for the license.

Licenses must be applied for and claimed via the Omani Association for Energy and Mining Skills. Licenses certify national competencies and are designed to regulate the labour market, ensuring employees meet certain criteria.

• Topic: HSE
• Region: Middle East
• Date: 18th December 2025
• Year: 2025

Qatar Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Department, in cooperation with Qatar Foundation, Tadmur Contracting, and The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, has held three awareness seminars for workers and employers' representatives on the prevention of workplace hazards

The aim was to raise awareness of the importance of implementing occupational safety standards and guidelines, and of methods to reduce accidents, injuries, and exposure to biological agents. The seminars are part of the Ministry of Labour's ongoing efforts to promote a safe and healthy working environment across worksites in the country, and to raise awareness of the importance of adhering to occupational safety procedures and adopting proper behaviours while carrying out duties in the contracting, construction, and hospitality sectors.

Experts from the Occupational Safety and Health Department, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Workers' Support and Insurance Fund delivered presentations to workers, outlining the most prominent risks in workplace environments such as slips, trips, and falls from heights; working on scaffolding; injuries resulting from the use of heavy machinery; trench collapses; exposure to contaminated materials; and behaviours that may contribute to the spread of infectious diseases. They also highlighted best practices to avoid these risks.

The experts stressed that reducing injuries and accidents at construction sites and avoiding biological hazards requires compliance with approved preventive measures, such as the use of personal protective equipment, adherence to on-site safety guidelines, ensuring equipment is safe before use, maintaining general hygiene, complying with sterilisation procedures, and adopting healthy behaviours to avoid potential sources of infection. They also emphasised the importance of employers' role in providing a safe work environment free from injuries and hazards.

These seminars are part of a series of awareness programmes and activities implemented by the Ministry of Labour throughout the year, in cooperation with partners in the public and private sectors, with the aim of enhancing occupational safety and health awareness, informing workers and employers of their legal obligations, and promoting compliance with the best local and international standards to ensure a sound and healthy working environment that provides the highest levels of protection and care for all workers in the country

• Date: 18th December 2025
• Year: 2025

The Board of Directors of Bahrain's Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) recently convened its regular meeting, chaired by His Excellency Yousif bin Abdul Hussain Khalaf, Minister of Labour and Minister of Legal Affairs. The session was attended by board members and Noubras Mohammed Talib, the LMRA's Chief Executive Officer.

A key focus of the meeting was reviewing the LMRA's ongoing efforts to implement strategic plans designed to strengthen the work environment and enhance regulatory and oversight efficiency.

These initiatives align closely with Bahrain's Government Programme (2023-2026) and the National Labour Market Plan (2023-2026), reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to fostering a balanced, flexible, and competitive labour market.

The board highlighted the LMRA's role in supporting economic growth by protecting the rights of both employers and employees, including national and expatriate workers.

By streamlining processes and integrating advanced digital tools, the authority aims to reduce labour disputes, improve transparency, and attract investment.

A significant portion of the discussion centred on updates to the enhanced Wage Protection System (WPS).

This upgraded electronic platform facilitates the timely payment of wages for both Bahraini and foreign workers through approved financial and banking institutions.

It enables seamless electronic transfers, ensuring compliance and accountability. The system particularly benefits employers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by simplifying financial and administrative operations. It allows for efficient documentation of payments without requiring additional investments in separate systems.

This not only minimises delays and disputes but also promotes contractual stability in the private sector. Launched in collaboration with the Central Bank of Bahrain and partners like the Benefit Company, the enhanced WPS underscores Bahrain's position as a regional leader in labour rights protection. It reinforces investor confidence and contributes to a professional, stable workplace.

Overall, these developments demonstrate the LMRA's proactive approach to modernising Bahrain's labour market, ensuring fairness, efficiency, and sustainability for all stakeholders. As the Kingdom advances its economic vision, such reforms are poised to drive productivity and long-term growth. (Word count: 312)

• Topic: HSE
• Region: Middle East
• Date: 17th December 2025
• Year: 2025

Integrity HSE's new office in Doha (and overall international expansion strategy) is fuelled by "challenging economic conditions in the UK market," according to managing director Steven Harris

The service provider, headquartered in Aberdeen, has enlisted country manager Neilson McCready to head up its new Doha operation.

Aberdeen will remain as the company's headquarters.

Harris explained, "We provide first-class QHSE support to global organisations seeking an outsourced solution that is more cost-effective than employing full-time QHSE staff, while also offering greater value through access to our diverse team of medical professionals, training specialists, quality engineers, and ISO certification experts."

The firm suggested Doha was a logical next step in its ongoing global expansion, with a growing reputation and portfolio in the Middle East.

• Topic: HSE
• Region: Middle East
• Date: 16th December 2025
• Year: 2025

The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has partnered with Lucid Group to open the Middle East's first Electric Vehicle Innovation Center which, according to Lucid interim CEO Marc Winterhoff, "embodies our ongoing commitment to leading the advancement of electric vehicle technology, and our support toward strengthening Saudi Arabia a hub for technological innovation"

Local, regional and global research and experts will convene at the centre, which will hope to accelerate Lucid's status as one of the world's most advanced EV manufacturers.

Winterhoff continued, "By combining Lucid’s engineering expertise with KACST’s advanced research capabilities, we will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Our teams are eager to begin the planned work together, recognizing this research will help shape the future of sustainable mobility."

Dr. Talal bin Ahmed Al-Sedairy, senior VP for Research and Development at KACST, added, "This cooperation contributes to the transfer and localization of advanced, high-impact technologies, the establishment of new industrial value chains, and the strengthening of integration between the research, development, and innovation system, the industrial strategy, and the investment strategy, thereby accelerating the transformation of knowledge into products and technologies that support the future of sustainable mobility and enhance the competitiveness of the national economy."

Ahead of its inauguration, the centre matured from a mere testing and validation facility to one that will involve research and optimisation in the engineering phases, extending Lucid's work at similar sites in the United States.

• Topic: Technology
• Region: Middle East
• Date: 15th December 2025
• Year: 2025

Middle East-based HITEK AI, a part of the Farnek group of companies, has upgraded its SAFETEK digital safety management platform, enabling a more proactive approach to safety management

This now incorporates AI-enabled Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and AI-integrated smart CCTV hazard detection, offering a smarter, faster, more cost-effective solution, with improved compliance for health and safety professionals across multiple industry sectors.

The AI-Enabled Root Cause Analysis (RCA) module uses pattern recognition, historical incident data, and real-time contextual inputs to identify the underlying causes of an incident. It leverages machine learning models trained on regional and site-specific data to pinpoint recurring risks and human factor trends and can be used to generate predictive insights rather than just reactive conclusions.

“The Incident Report RCA System is more than just an analytical tool—it’s a strategic asset for workplace safety. By integrating historical learning with DeepSeek AI’s intelligent analysis, organisations can achieve greater accuracy, deeper insights, and smarter safety strategies. With this dual-mode approach, businesses can ensure fewer workplace incidents, stronger compliance, and a culture of safety that is constantly evolving and improving,” commented Javeria Aijaz, managing director of HITEK AI.

The AI-Integrated Smart CCTV Hazard Detection System can now connect with AI-enabled smart surveillance systems to analyse live camera feeds for safety-related anomalies such as unsafe or unusual behaviour, unauthorised access, PPE non-compliance and potential hazards like oil spills or improper material storage. By using deep learning-based object detection the system triggers real-time alerts to safety teams, enabling instant mitigation.

Aijaz added that the platform provides a scalable, automated layer of oversight that reduces the need for manual inspections while ensuring high standards of workplace safety.

"These new features were added in direct response to client feedback for more proactive and insightful analysis and automated risk detection," she said. "The market is becoming more technically advanced and requires more mature AI functionality. Traditional manual audits and post-incident reviews, while necessary, simply take too long and cause delays in the reporting process.

“Our goal is to ensure that safety leaders are empowered with real-time visibility, early warnings, and automated analysis to prevent incidents before they escalate, in complex environments especially where there is public interface with the operations or workforce, such as airports, shopping malls, and large commercial facilities. However, it is also particularly relevant to other sectors such as construction, manufacturing industries and plants, refineries and factories,” added Aijaz.

Predictive RCA can lead to a reduction of up to a 40% in incident recurrence, while real-time video alerting systems can provide a 30–50% faster response through real-time video alerting systems, according to experts. 25% average cost savings can be achieved on safety manpower and manual inspections due to AI automation, and facilities using AI-driven surveillance have also reported over 35% improvement in safety compliance during internal audits.