HR Business Partner Middle East

Location: Dubai, UAE

Reports to: HR Director, Middle East & Africa

Function: Human Resources – International Health

Role Overview

This HR Business Partner role is based in our Dubai office and is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the employee lifecycle across the Middle East (UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Lebanon). In addition to regional responsibilities, the role will contribute to broader HR initiatives at the International Health level, supporting enterprise-wide priorities.

As a trusted advisor to the business, the HR Business Partner will play a pivotal role in translating business strategy into people outcomes. The role partners closely with HR Leads, the HR Director, and Centers of Excellence (COEs) to drive continuous improvement, operational excellence, and a high-impact employee experience aligned with Cigna MEA’s strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic HR Leadership
• Translate business and functional priorities into a forward-looking people agenda.
• Lead and execute strategic HR initiatives including workforce planning, talent acquisition, development, and engagement.
• Act as a liaison between country leadership, functional teams, and International Markets HR to ensure alignment and transparency.
• Culture & Employee Experience
• Champion the Employee Value Proposition and embed it across the employee journey.
• Drive culture and leadership development initiatives that support organizational transformation.
• Monitor employee engagement and wellbeing, recommending interventions to enhance performance and retention.
• Talent & Organizational Development
• Lead talent reviews, succession planning, and capability building in partnership with business leaders.
• Provide strategic and operational guidance on organizational design and workforce optimization.
• Support innovation and change management efforts across the region.
• Compensation & Governance
• Oversee compensation and benefits to ensure competitiveness and equity.
• Partner with Finance on HR budget planning and forecasting.
• Ensure compliance with regional employment laws and regulatory developments.
• Operational Excellence
• Execute HR processes in Workday including position management, headcount reporting, and HR transactions.
• Prepare HR metrics and reporting to inform decision-making.
• Support the HR Director on cross-regional and enterprise-wide projects.
  

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years’ progressive HR experience, ideally within the insurance or healthcare sector.
• Proven success operating within multinational and matrixed organizations, navigating complexity and driving alignment across geographies and functions.
• Strong business partnering experience with expertise in employment law, compensation, recruitment, employee relations, and organizational development.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, coach, and build trust with senior stakeholders.
• High proficiency in HR systems (Workday preferred) and data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
  
  

• Organizational Agility
• Strategic Thinking
• Builds Networks
• Drives Results
• Communicates Effectively
• Customer Focus
• Decision Quality
• Cultivates Innovation