Dubai: The 2010 Dubai Human Development Award (DHDA) was presented to Al Rostamani International Exchange (finance sector) for its success in achieving the integration and development of UAE nationals in the company.
The DHDA award, which falls under the Business Excellence Awards category, was presented at a ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hotel yesterday under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Dubai Municipality (government sector) and Esnaad (services sector) were awarded the Dubai Human Development Appreciation Programme for their contributions to national human development in their respective organisations and their continuous efforts and achievements in the development and recruitment of UAE nationals.
The Business Excellence Awards, organised by the Department of Economic Development, aim to encourage Dubai's private sector to actively participate in the development of UAE nationals. It also encourages the private sector to improve training programmes aimed at UAE nationals to help them improve their capabilities and efficiency.
Sami Dhaen Al Qamzi, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, highlighted the importance of the DHDA awards during the opening speech.
"The Dubai Human Development Award recognises the long-term commitment of the private sector to the development of young nationals and further strengthens their role in economic development. It offers them the chance to develop and build career paths. The role of the private sector is not only to provide new job opportunities for nationals, but also to provide them with intensive training and guidance."
He said Shaikh Mohammad strongly believes that the most valuable asset in achieving the UAE's social and economic progress is its youth.
Shaikh Mohammad observed in a written message: "In a bid to play a greater role in the economic development and progress of our country, the nationals of the UAE are required to be absorbed by the private sector, which plays a pioneering role in present and future development efforts. To encourage the private sector to help us develop the capabilities of our people, I launched the Dubai Human Development Award. The Award recognises and rewards the initiatives taken by individual organisations towards achieving our goal."
The DHDA was launched in 2002 by Shaikh Mohammad and was expanded into two categories for 2010, namely the Dubai Human Development Appreciative Programme (DHDAP) and the Dubai Human Development Award.
Benefits for companies
The DHDA award aims to promote awareness and understanding of requirements to develop UAE nationals in the private sector.
The participating organisations benefit in several ways. Besides the prestige and recognition associated with the award, the DHDA helps organisations to play a leading role in today's business society and absorb high-qualified nationals who will maximise growth potential.
The DHDA falls under the Business Excellence Awards which is organised by the Business Excellence Centre (BEC) in the Department of Economic Development.
Its aim is to promote quality and service excellence among the business community in the region. The BEC vision facilitates Dubai's drive for excellence and productivity, while its mission is to improve quality, productivity and competitiveness of Dubai-based businesses.
"Dubai has always maintained a strong and flexible economy based on our wise leadership and boundless ambition. The competitive environment in the emirate paved the way for creating a culture of excellence as a reference for determining the features of competition and performance of companies. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: ‘In the race to excellence, there is no finish line'. Those who believe that they have achieved excellence must be aware that they will quickly lose it if they do not remain committed to it. Excellence requires ongoing and sustained efforts to establish the pursuit of excellence and leadership," said Al Qamzi.
The Department of Econ-omic Development launched the Dubai Service Excellence Scheme to raise the standards of customer service and business ethics, and to set new levels of excellence in the UAE's fast-expanding retail sector. This is an important initiative to further reiterate Dubai's global image as the world's foremost lifestyle and retail destination.
