Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed honours 10 organizations at DQA ceremony

At a ceremony held at Grand Hyatt Dubai, the winners in the 2007 cycle of the Dubai Quality Award were honoured in three categories - the Dubai Quality Award, the Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme (DQAP) and the Gold Category. A special appreciation certificate for 'Achieving Excellence in the Processes Criteria' was 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. DHL Worldwide Express (Dubai) L.L.C received the special certificate for 'Achieving Excellence in the Processes Criteria'.

The winners of the Dubai Quality Award Appreciation Programme were: Dubai Modern High School (Education), Prime Healthcare Group LLC (Healthcare), Jumeirah Emirates Towers (Tourism), Dutco Balfour Beatty LLC - The Scaffolding & Formwork Division (Services) and Al Naboodah Laing O'Rourke Company LLC (Construction).

'The Dubai government is in the forefront of the quality drive and works closely with the private sector. 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,' said Khalid Al Kassim, Deputy Director General for Planning and Development at the Department of Economic Development (DED) and DQA Co-ordinator General.

He added: 'Ever since inception, the Dubai Quality 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 DQA process. 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 Dubai Quality Award is all about an established partnership between the Dubai Government and the private sector for furthering socio-economic welfare.'

Each submission for the DQA is reviewed by assessors according to procedures laid down by the Dubai Quality Award Secretariat that are modelled on the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence. After the entries are reviewed, a panel of jury members interviews the teams that assess the applicant companies to select the list of potential winners.

'Dubai's achievements now set regional and 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,' added Al Kassim.

Al Kassim praised the assessors and jury members who contributed valuable time to review and assess the applications professionally and in detail. He also praised the efforts of the DQA secretariat at DED, the organizers of the Award ceremony.