A Culture of Excellence: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Celebrates Government Achievement and National Service

In honouring the nation's finest leaders and institutions, the UAE reaffirmed its commitment to a governance model built on continuous improvement, innovation and an unwavering pursuit of excellence across all sectors.

The grandeur of government excellence was on full display as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, presided over a ceremony recognising the individuals and institutions that embody the nation’s highest ideals of public service. Alongside him stood His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, among other senior leaders of the state.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award, now more than three decades into its mission, represents far more than institutional recognition. It is a declaration of values, a commitment to a mindset that views excellence not as a destination reached but as a perpetual journey of refinement and reimagination. As Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid observed, excellence demands constant redefinition of what success means, the courage to experiment, and the vision to see governance as a craft worthy of mastery.

The ceremonial centrepiece was the presentation of the Mohammed bin Rashid Sash to His Highness Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, a figure whose distinguished record of national service spans the nation’s formative decades. Sheikh Suroor stood alongside the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan during the founding of the UAE, and his contributions to building the nation’s institutions remain woven into the fabric of the state’s development.

Recognition extended across the full spectrum of federal government excellence. The Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs each received the Leading Federal Entity Award for Excellence in Sustainability, acknowledging their ability to embed excellence as an enduring institutional approach across successive evaluation cycles. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism were honoured as leading ministries in their respective size categories, whilst the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security and the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources received similar distinction among authorities.

Beyond institutional achievement, the award system recognised innovation, global competitiveness and forward thinking. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority received recognition for contributing to the UAE’s global leadership, whilst the Ministry of Interior was honoured for adopting innovative solutions. The Ministry of Justice was celebrated for its work in developing legislation and laws, and the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources received recognition for its artificial intelligence applications.

Two projects of particular national significance received Special Recognition awards. The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s Make it in the Emirates initiative, which supports domestic manufacturing and economic diversification, and the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s Hayat programme, the National Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, each exemplified how government can deliver tangible impact on the lives and wellbeing of citizens.

The Prime Minister’s Medals honoured 16 individuals across multiple sectors and roles, from Captain Sultan Mohammed Al Nuaimi of the Ministry of Interior, recognised as Best Young Employee, to HE Ahmed Wahib Al Attar, UAE Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, honoured as Best Ambassador. Eman Mohammed Al Khoori from Madinat Al Riyadh School in Abu Dhabi received recognition as Best Teacher in the Top 5 category, whilst Dr. Noura Salem Marzouq, a General Practitioner at Al Qassimi Hospital, was honoured for her medical excellence.

The 2026 evaluation cycle witnessed participation from 30 federal government entities, with 57 leaders and 236 government employees nominated for the Prime Minister’s Medals. More than 130 Emirati and international experts applied a comprehensive 360-degree methodology, examining performance from the perspectives of government, society, customers and employees alike. This rigorous approach reflects the UAE’s commitment to measuring excellence through multiple lenses, ensuring that institutional achievement translates into tangible improvement in how government serves its people.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

For Abu Dhabi, the emphasis on government excellence reinforces the emirate’s position as a centre of institutional innovation and effective public administration. Recognition of entities such as the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, which received multiple accolades for its work on future jobs and infrastructure leadership, underscores Abu Dhabi’s role in advancing the nation’s strategic priorities. The award’s focus on manufacturing, food security, healthcare and artificial intelligence reflects the economic and social imperatives that shape Abu Dhabi’s development trajectory.

The award system itself represents an investment in the culture and capability that sustains Abu Dhabi’s development. By celebrating excellence as a mindset rather than a destination, and by embedding continuous improvement into institutional DNA, the UAE’s government performance framework ensures that Abu Dhabi’s public institutions remain responsive, innovative and capable of delivering the services that enhance quality of life for residents and citizens alike.

Source: WAM