Emrill appoints Khadija Alhirey as HR Director to drive Emiratisation and talent strategy

UAE-based integrated facilities management provider Emrill has appointed Khadija Alhirey as its new HR director and a member of the executive leadership team, reinforcing its focus on building a future-ready workforce.

In her new role, Alhirey will lead the company’s human resources function, aligning people strategy with business goals while strengthening organisational capability and developing a sustainable talent pipeline to support long-term growth. Her mandate spans workforce planning, talent development and employee engagement across the organisation.

A central pillar of her agenda will be advancing Emiratisation, with a focus on nurturing local talent and positioning facilities management as a viable long-term career path for UAE nationals. This includes increasing awareness of opportunities in the sector, deepening engagement with universities and launching early-career initiatives to attract talent at multiple levels.

Alhirey brings more than 15 years of HR leadership experience in the UAE, having worked across banking, aviation and healthcare. She joins Emrill from First Abu Dhabi Bank, where she served as vice president and head of graduate resourcing. Her previous roles also include senior HR positions at Emirates Flight Catering and leading hospitals in Abu Dhabi, where she led HR transformation, Emiratisation and workforce planning initiatives.

Commenting on the appointment, Stuart Harrison, CEO of Emrill, said Alhirey brings a strong blend of strategic and operational HR expertise, alongside a proven track record in workforce development and nationalisation efforts. He added that her appointment will strengthen the leadership team and support the company’s continued focus on building organisational capability.

Alhirey highlighted the people-centric nature of the facilities management sector, noting that Emrill’s success is rooted in the expertise and commitment of its workforce. She said she looks forward to working closely with leadership to enhance the company’s people-first strategy, develop sustainable talent pipelines and foster a high-performing culture.

In addition to her corporate responsibilities, Alhirey is actively involved in academic and industry development across the UAE. She serves as co-chair of an Industry Advisory Council for a Human Resources Management programme and regularly delivers guest lectures on HR leadership, Emiratisation and workforce transformation at institutions such as Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology and the Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Training.

Alhirey holds an Executive MBA from Bayes Business School, a Level 7 postgraduate diploma from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a Bachelor of Science from University of Houston–Clear Lake.