The UAE work environment is transforming rapidly, and organizations are no longer only concerned with salaries and their advantage (Rewards), they are now also concerned about how employees feel valued in the workplace.
The presence of a competitive diverse market implies that corporations have to turn to non-traditional incentives in order to attract and retain talent.
Recognition is now a key motivator of employee engagement, motivation and loyalty particularly in a region where employees expect employment to invest in their satisfaction and development.
Modern recognition is no longer about occasional certificates or annual awards.
UAE firms are embracing the use of online tools of rewards and recognition that provide real-time recognition, individualized experience and evidence-based intelligence.
These mediums develop stronger workplace climates whereby appreciation is organized and coordinated with business interests.
Organizations in the UAE, using the services of partners such as Ensaan Technologies get access to employee recognition solutions of world-class quality, which promote productivity, minimize turnover, and achieve sustainable employee engagement.
Table of contents
Key Features of a Good Rewards & Recognition Platform

A very important step in developing a culture of appreciation in a UAE business is the selection of the right employee rewards and recognition platform.
Excellent platforms shouldn’t just bring rewards but also support long term engagement tactics.
The most important elements of a powerful and efficient solution are the following:
1. Real-Time Recognition
Today employees want to have their recognition immediately.
An excellent platform enables managers and other colleagues to give live recognition and therefore any employee feels honored as and when it happens.
2. Personalized Rewards
Each of the employees is unique.
The site should offer a flexible reward incentive like gift cards, experiences, or other personal benefits to give the feeling of recognition that is personal.
3. HR Systems integration
An integrated HR and payroll system smooths out the process such that recognition can be linked to performance management and become an employee journey rather than a one-off process.
4. Data and Analytics
Rewarding is not only saying thank you.
Engagement (measured in terms of reports and insights) and tracking participation need platforms that facilitate the linkage of recognition with business outcomes.
5. Scalable and Localization design
As a platform, it should be able to accommodate both small working groups and large organizations and features adjusted to the cultural environment in the region and the diversity of its working population.
6. Mobile Accessibility
Considering that the current workforce is mobile-first, employees should have access to recognition always and everywhere with the help of mobile apps.
Ensaan Tech allows organizations in UAE to have access to a platform where all these functions are integrated in a single platform allowing organizations to develop stronger employee relations at the same time not forgetting to streamline recognition programs with business objectives.
Top 10 Employee Rewards and Recognition Platforms in UAE
1. Empuls by Xoxoday

Empuls is a recognition and employee engagement software powered by AI which helps to reinforce company culture.
It provides open-time recognition, rewards, surveys and community building tools.
Its AI engagement bot, Em, automates prompts, reminders and feedback gathering so that HR teams have more time to work on strategy.
Empuls supports integrations with Microsoft Teams, Slack, and SAP SuccessFactors, so the promised engagement continues and can easily be measured through employee satisfaction and retention.
Key Features of Empuls
- Recognition, rewards, community, and surveys all-in-one employee engagement suite.
- Em AI-driven engagement bot used to provide nudges, reminders, collect automated feedback.
- Easy to adopt by employees and HR departments and with a quick launch platform.
- People Insights and real-time analytics to capture engagement and satisfaction.
- Native integrations with Microsoft Teams, Slack, SAP SuccessFactors, BambooHR, Keka, Freshteam and others.
- Mobile-first technology that links remote and hybrid teams and in-office employees.
- Adoption of continuous engagement that is oriented toward company culture and values, as well as goals.
- Variable architecture appropriate to SME and / or enterprise within the UAE market.
2. Plum by Xoxoday

Plum uses AI to power the rewards and incentive platform that offers personalized experiences at scale.
Its reward choices include more than a million options in 100+ countries, and it includes gift cards, experiences, flights, branded goods, and charitable donations.
It includes multi-currency payouts, AI-assisted campaign personalization, and back-end integration with HRMS, CRM and survey tools, and is suitable for employee recognition, loyalty programs, and channel incentives throughout the UAE.
Key Features of Plum
- The largest online resource in the world reward marketplace with 1M+ choices in 30+ categories.
- Rewards that can be distributed flexibly, through Xoxo Points, Codes, Links and Reward API.
- Use of personalization of campaigns via AI to increase engagement and conversion.
- Smooth integration with the HRMS, CRM, ABM, and survey tool.
- Multi-currency and multi-lingual support of global/UAE-specific requirements.
- Reporting and analytics in real-time to monitor how rewards are delivered, redeemed and ROI.
- Compliant (ISO, SOC2, GDPR, HIPAA), enterprise-grade platform that is secure.
- Supports a variety of applications: employee rewards, loyalty, incentives, channel, consumer promotions.
3. Bonusly
Bonusly is a social recognition platform whereby employees can award their colleagues with achievement and contribution points.
These can be redeemed by a number of gifts or experiences.
Bonusly has both payroll and HR integrations so that organizations have a clear map of the engagement patterns and effectiveness of recognition activity.
It encourages a culture of appreciation, motivates staff and decreases turnover by ensuring that staff feel recognized as soon as possible with meaningful interaction.
4. Nectar
Nectar is a company that works on increasing employee engagement and uses the methods of tailorable recognition programs and peer-to-peer appreciation.
SHRM vouches so it’s safe to use and it enables organizations to tie rewards with company values and goals.
HR departments will be able to monitor participation and engagement rates and to tailor programs.
Nectar benefits organizations which seek to build more culture and retain the best talent in a competitive UAE work placement.
5. Motivosity
Motivosity is concentrated on employee engagement and recognition using peer-to-peer and manager-based initiatives.
The site checks the changes in performance, culture, and retention based on recognition.
The points-based revolution of Motivosity enables employees to be rewarded based on personalities and may be used with the effective HRIS systems, which are easily manageable.
It offers actionable analytics dashboards to enhance employee satisfaction and engagement strategies.
6. Achievers
Achievers is an efficient app that seeks to promote recognition, engagement, and performance management.
It also fits perfectly into Workday or other HR systems, offering a centralized method of employee rewards.
Achievers provide rewards with points, social recognition and analytics dashboards allowing organizations to monitor engagement trends enabling them to strengthen culture, improve morale and incorporate recognition into company values.
7. Awardco
Awardco focuses on both culture building and incentivizing behaviors to drive results.
It facilitates the rewarding of points, e-gift cards, experiences as well as team celebrations. Awardco features integration of the HRIS and payroll systems to make rewards purposeful and real-time. Analytics utilities enable leaders to quantify levels of engagement, participation and optimize programs to ensure optimum employee motivation and long-term retention.
8. WorkTango
WorkTango is a recognition and engagement platform used to encourage desired behaviors to enhance employee performance.
It facilitates surveys, feedback, and recognition all the time to establish a connected workplace.
The platform is connected to HR tools, offering a view to the steps of engagement, trends of behaviors, and programs that contribute to helping executives take actions that motivate and improve their overall experiences and employees.
9. Guusto
Guusto is designed to reward frontline and remote staff by means of instant, simple-to-send rewards.
The site delivers experiences, peer-to-peer recognition and real-time analytics via gift cards.
Guusto integrates with the current HR systems and communication tools allowing organizations to stay engaged with all the teams and follow the activity and use of rewards to achieve the best effect.
10. Cooleaf
Cooleaf enables organizations to build an overall recognition model by integrating employee’s engagement, rewards, and social recognition.
It facilitates campaigns, team challenges and points-based rewards, all of which are analytics-driven to gauge effectiveness.
Cooleaf can connect to HR software and provides highlights to inform engagement efforts, create a positive environment, and maximize worker happiness in various locations.
How Rewards & Recognition Impact UAE Businesses?
- Increases Employee Motivation: Awards help motivate employees into doing their best and remaining loyal to organizational goals and objectives.
- Boosts Performance: Feeling appreciated improves employee engagement and teamwork as well as contributes to a healthy work environment.
- Minimizes Turnover: A good recognition program helps in retaining the best employees, who are the key to surviving in the competitive UAE labor market.
- Increases Productivity: The rewarding process makes workers look forward to business goals and achieve high performance and sustained results.
- Builds a Strong Employer Brand: Companies that have good recognition programs are viewed as an employer of choice with such companies securing quality people.
- Strengthens Company Values: Rewarding desirable behavior and performance makes it possible to develop values which are aligned to company priorities.
- Increases Customer Satisfaction: Motivate and appreciated workers are more likely to provide the best service to their clients and lead to a better client experience.
Why Choose Ensaan Tech for Rewards & Recognition in UAE?

- Trusted Regional Provider: Ensaan Tech provides enhances solutions in UAE, GCC other than HR and talent management solutions.
- AI-Powered Platforms: Collaborates with Partners Plum by Xoxoday and Empuls by Xoxoday to offer personalized and scalable recognition experiences.
- Compatibility: Systems are integrated into existing HR systems to have a seamless implementation and limit disruption.
- Multi-Currency & Multi-Lingual Support: Accommodates and supports multi-Geography teams by supporting different languages and rewards and recognition options.
- Data-Driven Insights: Offers analytics to check employee engagement, ROI and general effectiveness of recognition programs.
- Compliance & Local Expertise: Leads to compliance with the regional labor law and tailors’ solutions to suit the UAE business culture.
- Strategic Business Advantage: Allows organizations to increase retention, engagement, productivity and employer branding by implementing the SPAPP recognition program.
Conclusion
Rewards and recognition are one of the key forms of employee engagement that UAE businesses are using to achieve engagement, retention, and performance.
Using AI-driven tools such as Empuls by Xoxoday, Plum by Xoxoday , companies will be able to provide individualized, time-sensitive and effective recognition moments that speak to employees at any level.
Ensaan Technologies has reputation as a reliable supporter in UAE and GCC market, and the company can assist with specialist knowledge, smooth platform integration and local compliance procedures.
Their solutions not only enhance employee satisfaction and motivation but also contribute directly to improved business outcomes, from productivity to employer branding.
In the current competitive corporate world, it is important to invest in a smart rewards and recognition platform, which is possible by using Ensaan Tech enables companies to build a culture of appreciation, foster loyalty, and retain top talent, ensuring sustainable growth and a future-ready workforce.
FAQ
Recognition will increase motivation, engagement, and retention as well as supporting the company values, and success in overall productivity.
AI-based platforms such as Plum by Xoxoday and Empuls by Xoxoday are most effective in UAE organizations and they provide scalable and personalized rewards.
Yes. Ensaan Tech is easily integrated with HRMS, HCM and other enterprise systems, which makes the process of adoption seamless and causes little disruption.
Absolutely. They are multi-currency and multilingual, as well as locally rewarded to serve global and regional departments.
AI customizes recognition, automates processes, analyzes the engagement data and offers actionable insights that enhance employee experience and ROI.
Platforms offer analytics dashboards, which monitor engagement, redemption rates, employee satisfaction, and business outcomes.