Honoured for commitment to excellence

Ten organisations were recognised for their commitment to excellence and for improving the emirate's business culture at the Dubai Quality Awards.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, handed out the awards at a ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt Dubai.

Winners for 2007 were honoured in three categories – the Dubai Quality Award, the Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme and the Gold Category. A special appreciation certificate for "Achieving Excellence in the Processes Criteria" was also presented for the first time this year. Wild Wadi Water Park from the tourism sector and Commercial Bank of Dubai from the financial sector were the winners in the Gold Category, which is only open to previous winners of the Dubai Quality Award.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Mars GCC won the Dubai Quality Award in the Tourism and Manufacturing sectors, respectively. And DHL Worldwide Express received the special certificate.

The winners of the Dubai Quality Award Appreciation Programme were: Dubai Modern High School (education), Prime Healthcare Group (healthcare), Jumeirah Emirates Towers (tourism), Dutco Balfour Beatty – the scaffolding and formwork division (services) and the Al Naboodah Laing O'Rourke Company

(construction).

"The Dubai Government is at the forefront of the quality drive and works closely with the private sector," said Khalid Al Kassim, deputy director general for planning and development at the Department of Economic Development and co-ordinator general of the awards.

He added: "The Dubai Quality Award ceremony honours those companies in Dubai that have introduced and benefited from quality concepts and practices that raise the level of quality across their entire operations. Ever since inception, the award has strengthened the culture of quality in Dubai's business community, and has a positive impact on an increasing number of private companies and individuals who participate in the awards process."

Al Kassim continued: "Though standards are set high, the quality movement does not stop at any particular level. It is a continuous journey – of setting and attaining new heights. The DQA is all about an established partnership between the Dubai Government and the private sector for furthering socio-economic welfare."

Each submission for the award is reviewed by assessors according to procedures laid down by the Dubai

Quality Award Secretariat that is modelled on the European Foundation for Quality Management.

After the entries are reviewed, a panel of jury members interviews the teams that assessed the applicant companies to select the list of potential winners.

Al Kassim said: "Dubai's achievements now set international benchmarks. It is of paramount importance to adopt a quality and excellence model, in line with international best practices, to sustain and build on our achievements."

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