Dubai Economy Launches ’Smart Industry Award’ As New Category In Dubai Quality Award

Award includes nine key criteria to measure level of digital transformation in industries

Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of Dubai Economy, along with the Business Excellence Department in Dubai Economy has announced the addition of a ‘Dubai Smart Industry Award’ into the Dubai Quality Award (DQA). The new award seeks to involve the industrial sector in the excellence march in Dubai and encourage the digital transformation of industries in line with the objective set in the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030 to elevate Dubai into a platform for knowledge-based, sustainable and innovation-focussed industries.

Dubai Exports, which has been entrusted with the overall handling of the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030, and the Business Excellence Department, will promote the new award among industries in the emirate. The industrial sector is projected to continue being a major driver of future economic growth in Dubai and the UAE, particularly in transforming Dubai into the smartest city in the world. The sector is also critical to the UAE Centennial Plan and accomplishing the eight principles of governance defined by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Since its inception in 1994, the Dubai Quality Award has received the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has been instrumental in driving the quality movement across the private and public sectors in the emirate. DQA encourages and motivates companies and institutions to adopt a policy of excellence, provide the best services, and recognize best practices in performance excellence.

The Dubai Smart Industry Award under DQA comprises nine core criteria, which are based on the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model, as well as technical criteria for measuring the digital transformation of processes and their integration into horizontal and vertical value chains of the organisation spanning development, manufacturing, supply, products and services.

Khalid Al Kassim, Assistant Director General for Economic Affairs in Dubai Economy, said: “Dubai Economy continuously works to strengthen the Business Excellence Awards, particularly the Dubai Quality Award, as an authentic reference for all sectors and a means to improve performance and productivity, as well as share best practices. We focus on developing quality standards and enhancing competitiveness among participants, in addition to launching initiatives that serve the business community. We are keen to take a leadership approach in identifying what is unique and beneficial to the economy in Dubai and the UAE.”

Engineer Saed Al Awadhi, CEO of Dubai Exports, said: “We are committed to supporting the manufacturing sector of Dubai.  Through the launch of Dubai Smart Industry Award, the first of its kind in the emirate, we aim at promoting productivity as well as sustainability in the sector. It will also support green industry and creation of high-value jobs for UAE citizens on the long run.”

By promoting the adoption of advanced technologies the new award will enable the industrial sector to transform future challenges into rewarding opportunities and receive higher returns, Al Awadi said. The sector accounted for 9.2% of Dubai’s GDP in 2018 and the Dubai Smart Industry Award will lead to a tech adoption culture that promises accelerated industrial growth.

Aisha Al Falasi, Manager of Product and Industry development in Dubai Exports, said: “The Dubai Smart Industry Award will define the level of digital maturity of local factories and the prevalence of best practices and methodologies used by the industrial companies in the emirate in their smart transformation. We aspire to highlight industrial units that keep pace with the technologies of Industry 4.0 and stimulate a spirit of competition in deploying detection technologies, IoT (Internet of Things) platforms, cloud computing and big data analysis, as well as artificial intelligence and blockchain, among others, across industrial sites and processes.”

For more details on the Business Excellence Awards, please write to bec@dubaided.gov.ae or call +9714 4455833.

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