• The report spanned 1,691 organizations from the GCC and wider MENA region to gather evidence-based data on factors for persistent disconnect between L&D efforts and sustained employee productivity

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 30 June 2026: Knowledge Group has released its latest primary research report, titled Relearning Productivity: The Hidden Role of Learning and Development (L&D) in Sustained Employee Productivity. As part of the Group’s MENA Workplace Index initiative that marks its 20-year legacy of supporting workplace agility, the study offers an evidence-based perspective on how organizations are approaching talent development in an increasingly complex and technology-driven environment.

Conducted across 1,691 public and private sector companies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the GCC and wider MENA region, the report examines how organizations perceive productivity, implement learning strategies, leverage technology, and measure impact. The research exposes a growing productivity paradox across the MENA region: Despite rising investment in workforce development, most organizations are failing to convert learning into measurable business outcomes. The study notes that 85% of the respondents cite weak business alignment as the primary reason why L&D falls short in improving productivity.