
Bridging the Talent Gap
Qamar Group Unveils a New Era in HR for the UAE
In a region where talent acquisition and retention remain some of the biggest challenges for businesses, Qamar Group oficially launches in the UAE with a bold mission: to reshape the future of HR through a human-first, AI-powered approach. Founded by HR veterans Frederick Verhelst and Katleen Penel, Qamar Group brings over 50 years of combined experience in recruitment, talent development, and organizational strategy.
Why Qamar Was Founded
Qamar Group was born out of a clear gap in the market: job seekers struggling to break through, and companies unable to find, retain, and grow the right talent. Despite a booming job market, the disconnect between opportunity and potential continues to widen.
“We saw too many talented individuals being overlooked, and too many companies stuck in cycles of hiring without long-term growth,” says Frederick Verhelst, Co-Founder of Qamar Group. “Qamar is our answer to that: a place where talent and business meet with purpose.”
A Full-Circle Approach: The Four Pillars of Qamar Group
To address the key challenges faced by companies and job seekers, Qamar is built around four core pillars.
Qamar Talent offers a fresh take on recruitment that focuses not just on filling roles, but on building careers. With deep industry knowledge and AI-driven tools, Qamar Talent connects companies with the right people: faster, smarter, and more meaningfully.
To continuously upskill the staff and leadership and thus create a more future-proof work environment, Qamar Academy provides a learning and development hub focused on online and in-person coaching. The Academy offers tailored programs that unlock potential and equip individuals and teams with the tools they need to thrive. “You can only truly coach performance when you understand the person behind it,” adds Katleen Penel, Co-Founder. “Qamar is built on that principle - that real impact starts with understanding the human, not just the role.”
Qamar Group www.qamargroup.ae Emirates Towers Peggy@qamar-talent.ae Dubai, UAE
Qamar’s Emiratisation program is dedicated to supporting the UAE’s ambitious goals through targeted programs and coaching that unlock the full potential of UAE Nationals. The Emiratisation program is designed to create inclusive and practical pathways for Emirati professionals, going beyond compliance, to build genuine, lasting careers.
From a proprietary gap analysis to HR strategy and operational consulting, Qamar Services equips businesses with the insights and tools they need to build sustainable people strategies. By automating HR processes and making full use of the latest AI technologies, HR departments can refocus on what really matters in their companies: the people.
Qamar’s 360-degree model blends cutting-edge AI with deep human insight to support individuals and organizations at every stage of the talent journey. “We balance each other out. Hard HR meets soft HR. Data meets gut feeling. Experience meets vision. We challenge and trust each other. In that trust, we’ve created something different and deeply human in a world that’s becoming increasingly automated,” adds Verhelst.
The future of HR in the region
Qamar Group is ambitious and firmly believes it can drive change in the current chaotic HR market. Their goal is to build upon the UAE’s attraction as a Talent Hub and grow to become a leader in HR in the Middle East.“The UAE truly is an amazing place for everyone that wants to work hard and build a career. We believe Qamar is the answer to the frustrations of many professionals and companies trying to be part of the growth of this region and struggle daily with the current HR reality,” says Penel. Having found the ideal partner in Frederick, Katleen is confident that together they can achieve something extraordinary. “The UAE is changing fast — and so is the future of work,” adds Verhelst. “We believe Qamar can be a catalyst for that change. We’re here to build real, lasting value: for people, for companies, and for the region.”