Al Shirawi FM Named a Top 10 Company for Women in Gulf

Al Shirawi Facilities Management has been recognized as one of the “Top 10 Best Companies for Women in the Gulf 2025”, an annual ranking by Avtar and Seramount. The ranking reflects Al Shirawi FM’s success in building an inclusive workplace that prioritises gender representation, workforce equity, and people development.

Now in its second year, the Best Companies for Women in the Gulf (BCWG) initiative evaluates organizations across the GCC on a comprehensive framework that includes recruitment and retention of women professionals, leadership representation, pay equity and benefits, parental and caregiving support, flexible work policies, and management accountability on DEI. Al Shirawi FM’s inclusion in the Top 10 reflects its successful shift from intent to execution, demonstrating measurable progress in building an inclusive, performance-driven workplace within the traditionally male-dominated facilities management sector.

By fostering a psychologically safe environment where employees can openly share ideas, take risks, and design their own career journeys, the company is enabling women to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

“This isn’t just a recognition, it’s validation that our actions are driving meaningful, measurable impact,” said Charalampos Sarafopoulos, Executive Director at Al Shirawi Facilities Management. “We’ve done the hard work of updating legacy systems, rethinking hiring filters, building career tracks and mentorship programs for women, and actively putting forward female talent into leadership roles so that women are not only included but empowered. And it’s working. We see it in our teams, our performance, and our culture.”

“We know, from global research and our own data, that diverse and inclusive teams perform better. But for us, this is about more than performance — it’s about fairness, innovation, and enabling every employee to see leadership as an attainable goal. Psychological safety, transparency, and mentorship are not add-ons; they are at the core of how we nurture talent and build confidence in our people.” added Veena Krishnamurthy, Head of Human Resources at Al Shirawi FM.

Over the last decade, the representation of women at Al Shirawi FM has trebled. In the traditionally male-dominated industry of facilities management, this shift in numbers is particularly notable. Krishnamurthy credits this change to a commitment to create a gender-agnostic workplace; one that ensures fairness at every stage, from hiring and pay parity to flexible work policies and leadership development programs designed to help women succeed.

This milestone is one step in Al Shirawi FM’s broader journey, which has historically put people at the heart of its business, taking a human-centric approach to human resources and employee welfare. The organization remains committed to pushing boundaries, challenging stereotypes, and investing in systems and people who will shape a more inclusive, dynamic workforce for years to come.