How Is Global Talent Acquisition Shaping the Future of Work?

Q&A Celebrating the People Leading the Change

Every year, organizations around the world celebrate Global Talent Acquisition Day—a moment to recognize the professionals who connect people with opportunities and help shape the future of work.

At Khatib & Alami (K&A), Talent Acquisition plays a strategic role in building high-performing teams across regions. To mark the occasion, Talent Acquisition Specialists from across our geographies—Mohammed R. Ali (Beirut), Aspassia Hassan (Cairo), Adil Al Makki (Riyadh), Hisham Al Sinani (Jeddah), and Kirubakaran Devaraj (Bangalore)—share their perspectives on how recruitment is evolving and what continues to matter most.

What does attracting and retaining top talent look like in 2025, and how is Khatib & Alami evolving to meet changing expectations?

Mohammed R. Ali: Attracting and retaining top talent requires agility, personalization, and purpose-driven engagement. Today’s candidates look for alignment in values, flexibility, growth, and digital maturity. At K&A, we modernize hiring through AI-enabled tools while authentically communicating our culture across regions. Our focus is on strategic hiring that supports diversity, innovation, and long-term success.

Hisham Al Sinani: Keeping pace with the digital workforce means focusing on skills over degrees, leveraging AI to streamline hiring, and using virtual tools to reach global candidates. Flexible work models, continuous learning, and data-driven insights are also key to retaining talent and anticipating future needs.

Aspassia Hassan: Increased competition from international employers means we must continuously evolve. We regularly review compensation and benefits, enhance job roles, and expand recruitment channels using innovative platforms. Equally important, company initiatives that prioritize employee well-being help attract and retain talent by aligning with the values and expectations of today’s global workforce.

While AI continues to transform recruitment, which parts of the candidate experience must remain human?

Kirubakaran Devaraj: AI helps speed up recruitment, but interviews, feedback, and trust-building require human connection. Empathy is essential for truly understanding and supporting candidates.

Adil Al Makki: AI improves efficiency, especially in screening and data analysis, but personal interviews are still essential for assessing personality, cultural fit, and handling unique situations through human interaction.

Hisham Al Sinani: Candidates value personal communication and support, particularly during interviews and feedback. Human judgment is also crucial for assessing soft skills and making final decisions. Striking the right balance between AI and human connection creates a recruitment process that is both efficient and genuinely engaging.

What is the most rewarding part of working in Talent Acquisition?

Hisham Al Sinani: The most rewarding part of my role is helping candidates find opportunities that align with their skills and passions while contributing to the company’s growth. I also focus on fostering a welcoming, supportive environment where both employees and candidates feel a sense of belonging.

Mohammed R. Ali: Seeing a great hire grow into a role where they create real impact. Each hiring decision shapes teams, projects, and the company’s future. Talent Acquisition is more than a process; it is a foundation for sustainable success.

Adil Al Makki: Helping people achieve their career goals and seeing how the right hires contribute to organizational success is deeply satisfying. Connecting with diverse candidates and learning about their stories also makes the job inspiring.

What makes recruiting talent unique in your region?

Adil Al Makki: Recruiting in my region involves navigating cultural and professional diversity, a fast-changing market, and emerging skill requirements. There is also a strong emphasis on developing local talent to support a knowledge-based economy.

Hisham Al Sinani: In Saudi Arabia, meeting the demand for specialized skills and managing a multicultural workforce can be challenging. However, the country’s fast-growing economy, driven by Vision 2030, is creating new opportunities, and its strategic location makes it an attractive destination for global talent and businesses.

Aspassia Hassan: Egypt’s youthful population offers access to a large, dynamic talent pool, particularly for entry- and mid-level roles. This demographic advantage allows recruiters to tap into energetic, adaptable, and growth-oriented candidates.

Mohammed R. Ali: Recruiting across the region means navigating diverse cultures, cross-border dynamics, and fast-changing markets. Trust and reputation are critical, with networks and referrals often shaping outcomes. Demand for digital skills and hybrid roles is rising, and the Gulf’s rapid development and megaprojects intensify competition, making timely, strategic hiring essential.

Kirubakaran Devaraj: Recruiting in India is unique due to its large and competitive talent market. Hiring strategies must account for regional diversity, cultural differences, and varying expectations between big cities and smaller towns. Education, career growth, and job stability are highly valued, making tailored approaches essential for attracting and retaining skilled professionals.

What is your proudest achievement as a Talent Acquisition Specialist?

Adil Al Makki: My proudest achievement as a Talent Acquisition Specialist is building a strong network of job seekers. By forming genuine connections, I have reached a diverse pool of candidates, improving recruitment efficiency and quality.

Hisham Al Sinani: Building a strong talent pipeline to drive organizational growth, recruiting for strategic megaprojects, and empowering national talent to assume leadership roles.

Aspassia Hassan: Leading recruitment efforts for major projects across multiple countries and introducing innovative hiring approaches that were later adopted company-wide.

Mohammed R. Ali: Every impactful placement is meaningful, but leading the rollout of our first global recruitment platform stands out as a major milestone.

Kirubakaran Devaraj: Filling critical niche roles in infrastructure and sustainability, directly supporting strategic growth in these areas.

Talent Acquisition will continue to play a critical role in driving K&A’s growth—aligning the right talent with the right opportunities and strengthening teams across the region.