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mentl has launched Moving the Needle, the first annual mentl awards playbook of real-world workplace well-being case studies, built from three years of awards entries, winner submissions, finalist stories and judging evidence.

The report moves the conversation beyond awareness, unpacking what changed when organisations redesigned the systems around people — from workload, access and leadership to inclusion, family support, psychological safety and measurement.

Unlike a traditional white paper, Moving the Needle is designed as a practical playbook. It includes data-rich deep dives into leading organisations, a wider tactics deck, 40 practical power moves and more than 60 real-world case studies and examples from across the GCC region.

The launch coincides with the opening of entries for the mentl awards 2026, under the theme Community. Impact. Resilience. This year’s awards introduce more tailored categories, clearer guidance and sector-specific scoring, alongside two new additions: The Year of the Family Award, recognising initiatives that support parenting, caregiving and family well-being, and MENA Guest Entry, welcoming standout initiatives delivered outside the GCC.

Since launching three years ago, the mentl awards have grown from an emerging platform into a regional industry gathering, recording 4.7M reach, 3,164 watch hours, 408 attendees and 250,000 employees represented across participating organisations.

Why now: the data behind the report

The global contradiction: better outlook, weaker engagement.

Globally, employee well-being and job-market optimism improved in 2025, but engagement fell for a second consecutive year to its lowest level since 2020, with manager engagement down nine points since 2022.

The regional warning light: MENA is carrying more strain.

Across MENA, engagement sits at just 14%, against a 20% global benchmark, while daily stress, sadness and anger all sit above global averages at 48%, 26% and 30% respectively.

The UAE paradox: high vitality, high pressure.

In the UAE, 70% of respondents rate their overall well-being as excellent or very good and 80% are willing to work harder, yet 56% of working respondents report loneliness, 67% are likely to search for a new job, and financial well-being is the weakest pillar at 53%.

The cost of inaction: disengagement is already expensive.

mentl’s regional analysis estimates lost productivity through disengagement could cost GCC businesses more than $200bn in 2026, including $106.8bn in Saudi Arabia and $48.6bn in the UAE - equivalent to around $61m and $28m respectively per working hour.

The prize: the return on well-being is bigger than the risk.

Analysis by mentl Moving the Needle points to $3.7tn–$11.7tn in potential global economic value from improving employee health and well-being, with a potential $60bn annual UAE return, or around $34m per hour, for employers that make well-being part of how work is designed, led and measured.

Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, said:

“Workplace mental health is no longer a niche conversation. Leaders, employers, schools, healthcare providers and advocates across the region are looking for practical ways to build healthier cultures.

“Moving the Needle is not a trophy cabinet. It is a working playbook built from the organisations already doing that work. Across three years of awards evidence, we have seen the same pattern again and again: progress happens when organisations stop treating mental health as awareness and start changing the system around people.

The next stage of workplace well-being is not more slogans. It is better access, better leadership, better work design, better measurement and support people can actually see, trust and use.”

The report highlights examples from organisations across sectors including construction, education, healthcare, energy, travel, professional services, communications, technology and community initiatives. Case studies include ADNOC Group and Sakina, WSP, Acorn Strategy, KEO International Consultants, Aster DM Healthcare, Safa Community School, Dulsco People and Aspen Heights British School, alongside a wider tactics deck of 40 practical moves drawn from mentl awards finalists and winners.

The mentl awards 2026 are now open for entry at mentlawards.com.

Click here to read the first mentl Awards Playbook, featuring real-world workplace well-being case studies.