Zahia is a passionate HR and Talent Leader with over 20 years of experience shaping people and culture across the UAE’s banking sector. She currently serves as the Head of Talent Acquisition and Talent Management at Emirates Islamic Bank, where she lead strategic initiatives in Emiratization, workforce transformation, and leadership development.
Throughout her career, Zahia has been driven by one mission — to create workplaces where people feel valued, inspired, and equipped to grow.She believes that real transformation happens when data, technology, and empathy come together to build stronger, future-ready organisations.
Zahia is currently pursuing her CIPD Level 7 in Strategic People Management, and is an active member of RL100 Middle East, where she contributes to conversations on innovation, inclusion, and the future of talent.
Beyond her corporate role, Zahia is deeply passionate about mentoring emerging leaders, supporting women in leadership, and helping people discover their purpose through meaningful work. Her journey combines strategy with heart — always focused on unlocking potential and making a lasting impact.
What’s a professional achievement of yours from 2024 that you are proud of?
Increase diversity of Females in leadership positions to 27%, Emiratization to 39%, and hire from 42 different countries. In addition to create roles recipe cards to transfer knowledge to young UAE nationals.
What’s a recent professional achievement of yours that you are proud of?
One of my recent professional achievements that I’m most proud of was leading Emirates Islamic Bank’s Emiratization sustainability strategy, which successfully positioned the bank to exceed its nationalization targets ahead of schedule. The initiative wasn’t just about meeting quotas — it focused on building a future-ready Emirati workforce through structured development pathways, internal mobility, and leadership readiness programs.
Through cross-collaboration with Group HR, business leaders, and external partners, we created measurable impact — improving retention, succession pipeline strength, and overall engagement. Seeing Emirati talent grow, lead, and shape the future of Islamic banking has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
What is your prediction for the future of the TA industry?
Get more STP and more efficiencies and get the hiring managers more engaged