Enthusiastic response to Afkar awards entry

The last date for sending in the participation forms being the last week of September, the DSF office received over 60 applications for the competition.

To kindle creative thinking and innovative ideas from within the various participating Government departments, the DSF office has instituted the Afkar award which is tailored for the participating OC members. By virtue of these awards individual teams of minimum two and maximum four members have to present three ideas about the main categories of DSF including Shopping (Discounts, Offers & Services) Raffles (Winnings and Campaigns) Entertainment/Events (Arts, Heritage, Cultures, Family....etc).

All ideas will have to be put forth in a PowerPoint presentation and will be judged on the basis of their idea, research, overall concept and implementation by a judging committee comprising members of the DSF 2006 Organising Committee and officials of the DSF Events and Operations Department. The last date for the presentation of the ideas has been extended from October 10 to October 15 and the names of the winning team will be announced on October 20.

The last date for submitting the applications had to be extended by a few days as the DSF call center, Ahlan Dubai was flooded with queries from the participating departments including the Dubai Municipality, the Department of Economic Development, Dubai Technology's Media Free Zone, Dubai Ports and Customs, Department of Health and Medical Services, Dubai Educational Zone, Civil Defence, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dubai Civil Aviation department seeking clarifications regarding the deadline, terms and conditions and other details about the awards which was promptly provided by the call center.

Said Mohammed Al Mulla, Head of the Cultural Committee and Director of Dubai Media City, "This is a very motivating award. Earlier at the DMC we too had an award on the same lines where a large number of staff members participated and it worked really well. The DSF OC teams are always very enthusiastic about new ideas and concepts and have been developing the annual event from strength to strength. The cash prizes play a big role in motivating the participants to do better in the future," he said.

Added Marwan Bin Bayat, DTCM Manager, Events and Head of the DSF Heritage Committee, "The idea is brilliant as I personally feel it helps to motivate the employees of the various Government departments, especially the new members of the Organising Committee as this involves them in contributing for the development of the annual shopping festival."

Marwan Bin Beyat said that Afkar is a unique initiative of the DSF Organising Committee and it certainly encourages the employees working in the various Government departments to come up with new ideas and concepts. "The Dubai Shopping Festival is entering its first round of the second decade hence should have unique and exciting events. The launch of the award is very timely and will definitely motivate all the participating departments to come up with good ideas. The DTCM has five teams who are now working on new ideas under our supervision as we hold regular weekly meetings to discuss the events and to ensure their effectiveness and uniqueness during the festival."

Said Mohammed Helal Al Muroshdi, DED Director of Compliance Division and Head of the DED Committee, "The prizes given by the DSF office will surely motivate the employees to come up with innovative ideas and events as we follow up with the teams and encourage them and support them in their efforts. From our side 24 DED staff members making up nine teams are participating and they are all waiting enthusiastically to present their ideas on October 15."