To amplify
awareness of its activities, especially the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (SKEA), SKEA
staff recently created numerous workshops in preparation for its 15th
awards program, backed by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Through the
program, the office seeks to promote sustainability and healthy competition in the
emirate’s economic and social development. Abu Dhabi Chamber Director Mohamed Al-Muhairi, who serves on the SKEA committee, described the program’s 15th
version as highlighting the tenets of creativity and novelty — both on a personal
and corporate level — as introduced in SKEA’s previous cycle, which first featured
an award for corporate innovation and creativity.
The award standards, Al-Muhairi said, are modeled on best
global practices, including examples set by Google, Apple, Samsung and others,
including the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). Additionally,
this year’s incentives will include recognition for small and medium
enterprises, with customized standards applied to their entry qualifications — likely
to appeal to many Abu Dhabi Chamber members.
Existing categories include industry, services, contracting,
trade, tourism, vocational and financial, health and education, oil and gas,
voluntary organizations, and social responsibility and sustainability.
SKEA Coordinator Hadi Al-Tijani, who defined the
development program’s goal as improving corporate functioning in Abu Dhabi,
rolled out a procedure plan for entrants, emphasizing that it is not about
winning or losing.
“It is a program to support and enhance the
quality of products and services which companies provide in the country and to
enhance their activities and businesses, as well as contributing to the success
of their plans and continuity of their businesses and achieving the best results
in all sectors and fields,” Al-Tijani said.
