Award opened to all sectors to boost competition

Dubai: Unlike previous sessions, the sixth round of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award was open to all UAE-based organisations, Dubai Chamber officials said yesterday.

Including the service sector which represents 70 per cent of the UAE economy is a logical step for the award scheme, that creates a benchmark for the UAE's private sector against international standards, Hamad Bu Amim, Director-General of the Dubai Chamber, told Gulf News on the sidelines of the event. "Regardless of their type, size or sectors, the award scheme allows the participants to strive in several diverse categories, thus enhancing their chances to win."

Bu Amim added that the competition has remarkably increased the lowest score from 4,400 points to 5,500 points this year. The highest achiever got 7,500 points.

"The assessment standard is getting stricter as the competition is getting bigger as the winner should be able to compete internationally."

Dubai Refreshments got the outstanding performance award.

Meeting standards

Ahmad Bin Eisa Al Sarkal, board director of Dubai Refreshments, said: "We had worked a lot to meet the required standards and fit into the tough assessment criteria.

"MRM is not only the most prestigious code for the business community in the UAE but it is a window to other investment and business opportunities." Danube Building Materials was the winner in the re-export category.

Rizwan Sajan, founder and chairman of Danube Group, said: "This award is also a testimony that our team has worked very hard to excel in quality across all our business processes. Winning the MRM Award has motivated our team even further to strive to achieve the highest possible standards of quality, performance and business excellence." Fahad Fawzi Kanoo, executive director of The Kanoo Group and the winner of the MRM award for the service category, said, "Although it is a very prestigious award, this would be a very good incentive to elevate business standards and service delivery as well as to boost quality."

Aqeel Madhi, CEO of the National Petroleum Construction Company, said: "This award is a major milestone for us. But we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to sustain our amazing growth through innovation and continuous improvement. This recognition is a major impetus for our strategy centring on augmenting our capabilities and expanding our business across the region."

Experience counts

Dr. J.R. Gangaramani, President and CEO of Al Fara'a General Contracting, which won the award in the construction category, said, "This achievement greatly reflects on our three decades of experience in the construction sector, the passion we have for our work, the confidence our partners and clients have in our capabilities and the dedication of our employees.

"This award is a great motivation and reiterates our commitment to uphold global best practices in the construction sector of the UAE."

Yahya Bin Saeed Al Lootah, member of the board of trustees, Dubai Medical College, and CEO of S.S. Lootah Group, said, "This achievement is the fruit of a strategic cooperation between the Dubai Healthcare Authority and S.S. Lootah Group — a true model of excellence in public private partnerships. I would also like to extend sincere appreciation to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry on their continued success in encouraging the private sector to contribute to the economic growth of the region and compete at a global level by incorporating business excellence as a core value."