News

MENA Survey Investigates Employee Loyalty And Satisfaction

Research revealed 81% of the workforce are highly engaged and 68% take pride in their company’s products and services.

Published

2 years ago

July 31, 2024

Nour Nasir

Bayt

In a recent survey by leading job site Bayt.com and YouGov, the driving factors contributing to employee loyalty in the MENA region were identified, along with actions that could potentially enhance or undermine it.

In the survey, 55% of participants reported having been with their current employer for over four years. This stability appears to parallel workplace satisfaction, with nearly 60% of employees indicating satisfaction with their current employers. Meanwhile, 33% of employees categorize themselves as “very loyal” to their organizations, with an additional 23% feeling “somewhat loyal”.

The survey also found that the vast majority of workers (81%) were highly engaged with their jobs, indicating a deep immersion in day-to-day company activities.

In terms of factors contributing to overall loyalty, the survey reports that salary satisfaction stands out as a critical aspect for 54% of respondents, closely followed by employee job fit at 36% and additional company benefits at 32%.

According to the survey, employers should focus on increased recognition and rewards to boost staff loyalty (cited by 60%). Opportunities for growth were identified by 52% of respondents, and the facilitation of regular discussion forums to address employee grievances was emphasized by 50%.

Regarding factors that could potentially detract from employee loyalty, neglecting staff suggestions had a significant impact (56% agreed). Heavy workloads or unequal distribution of responsibilities were cited by 54% of respondents as a problem, while poor communication from direct managers was also a major source of dissatisfaction (51% agreed).

Also Read: The Most AI-Proof Career Opportunities In The Middle East

Ola Haddad, General Manager at Bayt.com explained the importance of the research, saying: “Understanding and nurturing employee loyalty is critical in navigating the dynamic landscapes of the MENA workforce. Our survey reveals a powerful correlation between trust in leadership and employee allegiance”.

Zafar Shah, Account Director at YouGov added: “As the data suggests, employees who feel valued through fair compensation, job fit, and career opportunities are more inclined to feel more engaged in their workplace and speak about their companies’ products and services passionately. It is this sense of belonging and purpose that distinguishes highly loyal employees from the rest”.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.