Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president and prime minister and ruler of Dubai, presented the Dubai Quality Award (DQA) to 19 organisations representing diverse economic sectors.

Five organisations were also honoured with the Dubai Human Development Award and the Dubai Human Development Appreciation Programme for their commitment to empowering UAE nationals at the workplace.

At a ceremony held at Grand Hyatt Dubai, the winners in the 2008 cycle of the Dubai Quality Award were honoured in two categories - the Dubai Quality Award and the Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme (DQAP).

A special appreciation certificate for 'Achieving Excellence in the Leadership Criteria' was also presented.

Sharjah Islamic Bank (finance), Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company (Adgas) (manufacturing), Dubai Properties (real estate) and Dubai Healthcare City (healthcare) were the winners of the Dubai Quality Award.

FedEx Express International (Dubai Branch) received the special certificate for 'Achieving Excellence in the Leadership Criteria'.

The winners of the DQAP were: Associated Constructions & Investments Co (ASCON), Amana (Construction), Damas, Joy Alukkas Trade), Jumeirah BAB Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, India Club, Al Jawhara Gardens Hotel - member of SS Lootah Group (Tourism), Otis,  Emirates Marketing and Promotion, 3i Infotech(Services), Zulekha Hospital (Healthcare), National Fire Fighting Manufacturing (Manufacturing), The Kanoo Group-Power & Industrial Projects Division (Professional) and Al Rostamani International Exchange (Finance).

The winners in the 2008 cycle of the Dubai Human Development Award were honoured in two categories – The Dubai Human Development Award and the Dubai Human Development Appreciation Programme (DHDAP).

The Dubai Human Development Award category was presented to Dubai Ports World - DP World and Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) (Service Sector), while Mawarid Finance, UAE Exchange (Finance sector) and Dubai Properties Group (Real Estate Sector) were awarded DHDAP, for their contribution to national human development within their organisations.

'Dubai is committed to strengthening the culture of quality and excellence in performance, and developing the means and policies to achieving this,' said Sami Daen Al Qamzi, director general, DED, in his opening speech at the ceremony.

'This calls for enabling companies in the Emirate to align their performance and services in line with international quality standards,' he noted.

“Commitment to applying international quality standards is a must to preserve the accomplishments of Dubai across all sectors. These achievements are our pride and glory. Through the Dubai Quality Award, the concept of quality becomes an incentive for continuous development,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service