Great Place to Work®, a global research, training and consultancy firm that recognizes the best workplaces in over 50 countries worldwide, has revealed the Top Companies to Work For in the UAE for this year. Now in its sixth year, the list recognizes the top 20 companies in the UAE with outstanding workplace cultures.

This year Great Place to Work attracted a record level of participation in the UAE, resulting in an increased number of companies qualifying for the Top Companies to Work For List.

As a result of increased participation, this year’s results featured 20 companies, up from 15 the year before. The Top Companies to Work For annual benchmarking study assesses the level of credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie within an organization, and forms part of the world’s largest employee survey. Two-thirds of a company’s score is based on the confidential feedback of its employees while the remaining score is attained from an audit of management and HR practices.

“There is a growing understanding among business leaders in the UAE that workplace culture has become a significant competitive advantage for organizations to attract and retain top talent. Leading organizations are continuously monitoring their employees’ workplace experience and looking for innovative ways to make incremental improvements,” says Maha Zaatari, managing director of Great Place to Work in the UAE, in a press statement.

From the media and communications field, Omnicom Media Group MENA and its agencies have been named the third best employer in the UAE. This also marks the fifth consecutive year that the group has participated in the survey and been listed among the top employers in the country. Omnicom Media Group MENA has remained the only marketing communications company in the top 5 since the study’s inception six years ago.

Omnicom Media Group MENA’s consistently high performance in the Trust Index Survey intimates its internal initiatives, which include an award-winning sustainability drive, a corporate wellness program and a learning and development academy, are effective at creating a fulfilling environment, a positive workplace culture and a strong employer brand.

“Holding this ranking three years in a row is an exceptional achievement, especially in light of the increased competition we faced this year,” says Elie Khouri, CEO of Omnicom Media Group MENA, in a statement. “It truly is a testament to the impressive effort and value every member of our Omnicom family brings to the table on a daily basis. We will keep working consistently to provide our people with an environment that continues to inspire them to be creative, savvy and successful professionals,” he says.

MCN’s Weber Shandwick remained in the same place at No. 7. Last year, the agency was recognized for the effort that went into its office move. It made its in-house creative team work as a liaison between staff members and industrial designers and printers to ensure everything in the office represents the staff.