Dubai World's Suggestion & Reward Scheme receives wider international acclaim

At the SRS annual ceremony held recently at Emirates Towers in Dubai, as many as 74 employees of Dubai World companies were honoured with awards and certificates of appreciation for their feedbacks and practical suggestions.

The ceremony was attended by several senior Dubai World officials, including Mr. Farid Mohammed Ahmed, Secretary General, and Abdulqader Obaid Ali, Director, Group Internal Audit and Business Excellence and Chairman of the Suggestion Scheme in Dubai World.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Farid Mohammed Ahmed, said:

'The Group's Suggestion and Reward Scheme has proved to be a huge success. This is evidenced by the fact that a number of employees at all levels are submitting suggestions. This scheme contributes to improving the efficiency of our organisation in terms of increasing productivity as well as sustainable progress in various areas. This scheme has become an efficient tool to effect improvements in the organisation.'

'The SRS as practiced in Dubai and the UAE has been well received by a large number of companies and attracted widespread interest both nationally and internationally. This has brought recognition and honour to those driving the scheme,' he added.

Mr. Farid Mohammed Ahmed called upon all employees to submit their suggestions as every suggestion is duly examined and those found effective and practical ones recognised and rewarded.

Mr. Abdulqader Obaid Ali, said: 'SRS has the full support and encouragement from the employees and the management. Success depends not only on strong management and corporate strategies but also requires the participation of employees, because it largely determines the degree of success our Group can realise.'

'Our people are our most valuable assets and they are the pillar of Dubai World's success and achievements. I call upon all employees to participate in the scheme by submitting their valuable ideas and suggestions which will definitely help us improve performance and win more international awards for the Group,' he added.

SRS received 755 suggestions in the first six months of 2008, of which 131 were implemented. These helped saving Dhs16m for Dubai World, while the rewards given away totaled Dhs570,000.

The number of suggestions submitted, approved and implemented since 2001 to the first half of 2008 totaled 1442, and the total amount rewarded touched Dhs4,3m.

Ms. Awatif Mohammed, Head of SRS, said: 'The ideas and schemes suggested by a large group of employees in Dubai World's companies and departments in the UAE and abroad have contributed to savings in the amount of Dhs524m over seven years, during which the SRS has received several prominent international awards, such as the 2007 Idea of the Year Award - Productivity Category from ideasUK, the 2007 First Prize in International Poster Competition from ideasUK and the 2008 Idea of the Year Award - Finance Category and runners up in Productivity Category.

'The Scheme has been well received by the top management and a large section of employees. We have been keen to improve quality standards and create new ideas within the Scheme that would result in more employee participation,' she added.