Our Q5 Arabia team recently joined HR and business leaders from across the Kingdom at HRSE KSA 2026 in Riyadh.
Over two days, we had conversations about the challenges organisations are facing and how the world of work continues to change. A few themes came up again and again, particularly around AI, workforce readiness, organisational transformation and culture.
Here’s what we heard:
AI is already being used or explored by many organisations. But introducing the technology is only part of the challenge.
Organisations also need to think about their roles, ways of working and capabilities, and how these need to evolve to get the most from both the technology and their people.
For many organisations in the Kingdom, the question is no longer simply whether to invest in AI, but where it can create meaningful value.
This requires a clear understanding of where AI is actually needed, as well as the leadership capabilities and workforce readiness required to turn that investment into better performance.
Organisational transformation was another recurring topic at HRSE. But transformation is about more than moving boxes and reporting lines.
For change to have a lasting impact, organisations need to build the capabilities that will help them deliver their strategy in practice. Structure is part of that, but so are skills, roles, decision-making and ways of working.
As technology continues to advance, the human side of transformation becomes even more important.
How organisations lead, engage and support their people will continue to play a major role in whether change delivers the intended results. Technology can create new opportunities, but people remain central to making those opportunities work in practice.
Culture was a hot topic throughout the event. Organisations increasingly recognise the role it plays in organisational success and in creating a strong employee value proposition.
As organisations evolve, culture has an important role in connecting strategy with the behaviours and experiences that shape how people work every day.
We left HRSE KSA 2026 with plenty to reflect on. One thing was clear from the conversations we had: organisations are increasingly looking at technology, people, leadership and organisation design as connected challenges rather than separate priorities.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Q5 Arabia stand and shared their perspectives with us.
If you’d like to learn more about how Q5 Arabia supports organisations through transformation and organisational change, get in touch with the Q5 Arabia team.
Arabia@q5partners.com
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