Dubai Chamber announces final call for MRM Business Award participants

After a successful UAE-wide run of seminars and road shows educating eligible companies about the methods of participation and its benefits, the Award is attracting more participants from a wider area of commercial operations as it is based on the High Business Performance Model created by Dubai Chamber and has two new categories of the MRM Supply Chain and Logistics and the MRM Corporate Social Responsibility awards.

Held annually under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the MRM Business Award, which has won the Dubai Government Excellence Programme's Award for Best Administrative Project for the year 2007, has organised three training seminars last month covering all the emirates including Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi which was attended by participants from other emirates as well.

These training seminars were organized to familiarize participants about the various categories, eligibility, participation procedures and benefits of the award which include a free assessment of their performance which is provided to all participants besides providing them an opportunity for self-assessment and sharing of ideas with others and finally receiving the award from HH Sheikh Mohammed himself.

Said HE Eng Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber, "The main objective of the MRM Business Award is to appreciate the efforts of corporations which have effectively contributed to the development of business sectors in the UAE throughout their outstanding performance. The Award also highlights the role of the private sector as an active player in the development of national economy. The uniqueness of the Award lies in the fact that all applicants benefit from learning about others' experiences and the best business practices in each sector.

"The Award enables participating companies to acquire corporate-related expertise based on self-analysis of their performance and compare the type of their management with the best practices of other establishments working in the same sector. The Award provides objective evaluation to identify the gaps in their operations and take remedial actions, and at the same time, to reinforce their noticeable strengths and give a chance to the establishments to exhibit their achievements and celebrate their success," said Buamim.

The Award's seven categories for UAE companies are Manufacturing; Finance; Re-Export, Construction, Real Estate Development, Supply Chain and Logistics, Corporate Social Responsibility and an additional category for UAE Free Zones Manufacturing awards and firms licensed and registered with any UAE Chamber of Commerce & Industry and operating in the UAE for at least two years are eligible to apply but award winners of the past two years are not eligible to apply.

Entries to the MRM Award are open to all companies operating across the UAE and its free zones can participate. The closing date is 20th November, 2008. For more information please call 800-MRM, that's 800676.

According to the Business High Performance Model, the assessment criteria of the Award include Management Criteria and Performance Criteria, which takes 70% of the total evaluation weight. The management criteria of 30% include 5 elements which are the leadership perspectives, the strategic initiatives, quality imperatives, corporate culture and corporate social responsibility. Moreover, the performance criteria include the output which is the actual quantity of products and services produced by the firm, the outcome which reflects the achievements implemented by the establishment, and the impact of the firm through its contribution towards the nation and society.