In the wake of the Sharjah International Forum for Government Communication held under the auspices HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Dubai Customs was accoladed with the Best UAE Government Communication Strategy trophy of the 3rd Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA 2016) in a ceremony held at Expo Centre Sharjah.
Director of Corporate Communication Department Khalil Saqer bin Gharib received the Award from HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, with the presence of HE Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Centre.
The Best Government Communication Strategy Award is considered as one of the key categories of the SGCA, aimed at situating Sharjah and the UAE as a frontrunner in promoting healthy and effective government communication practices that keep pace with the rapid socio-political changes within the UAE and GCC. The first of its kind in the region, the SGCA was first introduced three years ago to reinforce efforts of local and regional institutions, groups and individuals in innovation constructive communication with the public and to sustain strong axis of communication between government entities and decision makers as well as the public, in addition to improving the efficiency of governmental performance as a whole.
Fierce competition and globally recognized jurists
The running for the Award witnessed heated competition amongst heavyweight government entities across the UAE. It was ruled after extensive screening of the submitted nominee files by a panel of elite international recognized jurists who uphold long standing record as communication veterans, calling in Dubai Customs as the awardee of this year’s Best Government Communication Award in the UAE. This is a clear testimony of DC’s dynamic corporate communication strategy meeting up with the high-demands of Dubai Customs attribute as a world leading trade facilitator and a major contributor to the economic prosperity of Dubai and the UAE alike.
On this occasion, HE Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO & Chairman of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), expressed his happiness for this milestone of Dubai Customs and dedicated this win to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; attributing this achievement to His Highness’s wise leadership in drawing the map of excellence as per the world’s best practices in all fields.
“This Award reflects Dubai Customs efforts in actuating Dubai Plan 2021 in the field of communication and media,” Bin Sulayem said.
He also hailed the collaborative efforts of the DC Corporate Communication Department and the synergized matrix of advanced communication efforts best serving the optimal economic image of the Department and the Emirate of Dubai alike, while being the spearhead platform in circulating Dubai’s foreign trade indicators and a true pillar supporting the overall image of the UAE’s strong economy.
Bin Sulayem also thanked HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, for his unwavering efforts in support of cultural and media movement nationwide and for His Highness’s constant encouragement of media innovators via the globally acknowledged Sharjah International Forum for Government Communication, which has raised the bar for excellence in communication and proved to be a prosperous incubator of knowledge sharing and an attested benchmark for government communication worldwide.
Dubai Customs Director Ahmed Mahboob Musabih also said he was proud of this achievement and personally congratulated the Corporate Communication Department Director and his team , saying “ Dubai Customs have won 35 vivid awards in 2015 and many more in the first quarter of 2016. Such an extensive catalogue of awards and accomplishments is directly attributed to the devotion and loyalty of DC employees.”
HE Ahmed Mahboob also hailed the one team spirit of all DC employees and the two-way effective communication between DC Divisions and the Corporate Communication Department in a holistic, interactive approach.
From his part, Khalil Saqer bin Gharib expressed his gratitude for the continued trust and support shown by HE Sultan bin Sulayem, HE Ahmed Mahboob and the entire Senior Management of DC.
“Our day-to-day practices are inspired by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s wise vision, whom we look up to as our role model for pursuing excellence at all levels and in all aspects of work in our steadfast quest towards number one status in all fields,” Bin Gharib Said.