Mohammed bin Rashid honours founders, coordinators of Dubai Quality Programme

Dubai (WAM): Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has honoured the founders and coordinators of the Dubai Quality Award (DQA), which was launched in 1994. He honoured Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, and Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre for their outstanding contributions towards the success of the Business Excellence Awards during the last 20 years. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai were present. The Business Excellence Awards, which completes two successful decades, also includes the Dubai Human Development Award (DHDA) and the Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) in addition to DQA. The 35 winners were honoured in the three categories for their outstanding pursuit of excellence during the year 2013, with Free Zones, Transport and Logistics joining as new sectors in the Awards. Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED said at the Awards ceremony, "The Business Excellence Awards reflect DED s keenness to achieve the Dubai Government s aspiration to support the journey of quality and excellence, and promote sharing of best practices. Let me quote His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in this context. He said, "The concept of excellence and innovation has become an approach and example to be adopted worldwide." Sheikh Mohammed also honoured the following winners of the DQA: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray (Tourism), Al Ghurair Exchange (Finance), British Orchard Nursery Al Mankhool and Jumeirah branches (Education), Tristar Transport LLC (Service), Imdaad LLC (Service), Nine West Apparel Group (Retail), Lulu Hypermarket Regional Office, Central Logistics, Stores in Qusais, Barsha & Karama (Trading), Aswaaq (Trading), NIKAI Group of Companies (Trading) and Ascon Road Construction (Construction). DP World Head Office (Logistics) and Commercial Bank of Dubai (Finance) received the Dubai Human Development Award while three Government sector organisations - Emirates Identity Authority, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) LLC and Emirates Transport along with Union National Bank (Finance), U.A.E. Exchange Centre LLC (Finance), Lulu Hypermarket Regional Office, Central Logistics, Stores in Qusais, Barsha & Karama (Trading), Intercoil International Co. LLC (Manufacturing) and British Orchard Nursery Al Mankhool and Jumeirah branches (Education), received the Dubai Human Development Appreciation Award from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Al Gergawi. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed and Essa Kazim honoured the retailers named under the Best Service Performance Outlet and Best Service Performance Brand categories of DSES. Al Jaber Optical Bawadi Mall Branch (Opticals), HRG Dubai Airport Free Zone branch (Travel Services), THE FACE SHOP Century Mall Branch (General Retail), Triumph Abu Dhabi Mall branch (Clothing), Dune Bawadi Mall Branch (Footwear), Pure Gold Jewellers Deira City Centre Branch (Jewellery) and Al Ghurair Exchange Bur Dubai branch (Money Exchange Services) were the Best Service Performance Outlets. The Best Service Performance Brands were Triumph (Small Business), Al Ghurair Exchange (Medium Business), Al Rostamani International Exchange (Large Business), Damas Jewellery LLC (Special Category), and U.A.E. Exchange Centre LLC (Outstanding Business). Al Qamzi said that the Business Excellence Department in DED will launch a special award for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 2015 and a customer satisfaction index as part of an extended excellence drive to cover key business activities and organisations in Dubai. "BED is also set to launch the region s first-ever Benchmarking Partners programme for businesses and organisations in partnership with EBM International. The programme is meant to assist organisations in benchmarking Excellence practices with focus on Customers, Employees, Society and Business Results," added Al Qamzi. – Emirates News Agency, WAM