Major General Al Marri felicitates winners of the Institutional Leadership Award 2019-2020

His Excellency Major General Mohamed Ahmed AlMarri, General Director of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, felicitated outstanding employees and sectors who won GDRFA’s medals for functional, administrative and institutional excellence, during the Institutional Leadership Awards 2019-2020 event. The 10th edition of the awards was held at the Headquarters of the Directorate, in the presence of Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, Deputy Director General of GDRFA, assistants of the General Director, their deputies and advisors, and a number of senior officers. His Excellency Al Marri said: “What the UAE has achieved throughout the years in reinforcing the quest for excellence and pioneering achievements in the governmental work has made our homeland one of the most developed countries in the world and has placed it at the top in all fields. These successes can be attributed to our wise leadership’s ability to overcome all the difficulties, to plan and foresee the future so that excellence has become the mark of our efforts to guarantee the best solutions to serve the people.” His Excellency added that excellence is a continuous approach, and it is the hallmark of our governmental institutions. “As officials, we must double the work and develop it to keep up with the changes and the anticipated challenges, in order to drive the sustainable development of the country and lead in all sectors,” he said. His Excellency further noted that the Institutional Leadership Award plays an integral role in elevating the challenges’ limits and spreading the concept of excellence in the governmental work. Thus, it enhances positive competitiveness between various sectors, and encourages their employees to remain innovative and creative. This award contributes to developing the capabilities and competences of the employees in order to improve their institutional performance and achieve pioneering results in various fields. It paves the way for distinguished students to participate in the Dubai Government Excellence Program. His Excellency congratulated the winners from various sectors and the employees who spared no effort to establish a strong infrastructure to advance institutional work, open new horizons and follow the leadership’s vision for the future in the field of creation and innovation. These efforts made GDRFA what it is today, thanks to their excellence and dedication to work. His Excellency put the spotlight on the efforts of the Institutional Leadership Award team consisting of 26 internal and external evaluators, who have been keen to implement the evaluation process in a professional and highly effective way. General Hussein Ibrahim, Assistant Director General of the Institutional Support Sector, highlighted the importance of this award in boosting the UAE’s strategic orientations and its approach to empowering the governmental work and fulfilling the needs of the fourth industrial revolution in various fields. These in turn enhance the services provided to the costumers and improve the quality of life of the society members. He pointed out that this award spreads the spirit of positive competitiveness among sectors and their employees, establishing the culture of excellence and making it a way of life. Honouring Dubai Excellence Medals and Institutional Excellence categories The ceremony honoured 12 categories of Dubai Excellence Medals, and 8 of Institutional Excellence Award. They recognized the best entity in achieving the Dubai plan 2021; the best in meeting the criteria of principal functions; the best in digital empowerment; the best in institutional agility; best in data and knowledge management; the best in professional talent management; and the best in the field of innovation. The independent sectors were also honoured for their preparedness for future in the categories namely: the best in achieving the leadership position; the best in improving the quality of life of customers; the best in partnership and integration; the best in innovation; the best in efficiency and governance; and the most committed entity in implementing the strategic plan and performance indicators. The sustainable resource program initiative was named the Best Strategic Initiative of 2019. Besides, GDRFA honoured the entry and residence permits sector as the most improved in 2019, and Institutional Support Sector in pioneering for the year 2019. The sectors that achieved the seven-star ratings were also honoured, including the airports sector, the Institutional Support Sector, and the seven-star entry and residence permit sector for this year. Special recognition During the ceremony, His Excellency Al Marri also honoured the Covid-19 response team headed by Brigadier Khalaf Al Ghaith, Assistant Director General of the follow-up sector of violators and foreigners in GDRFA Dubai. He praised their efforts in facing the pandemic and congratulated the unsung soldiers for their service and dedication to work. He also extended his thanks to the heads of the leadership and excellence departments, noting their significant roles in accomplishing Institutional Leadership in the Directorate. Elite Award 2019 At the end of the ceremony, His Excellency Major General Al Marri honoured the sector that won GDRFA’s Elite Award for 2019 in the entry and residence permit category.