HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed receives 2007 UN Public Service Award

Award recognises Dubai Government Excellence Programme for Improving Services

Vienna, Austria: 26 June, 2007 - His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, today received the 2007 United Nations Award for Dubai’s efforts to improve government services.

Mr. José Antonio Ocampo The UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, presented the award in the ‘Improving of Delivery Services’ category, West Asia region, on the opening day of the 7th Global Forum on Reinventing Government, being held in Vienna, Austria. The award is in recognition of the Dubai Government Excellence Programme (DGEP), viewed as one of the most outstanding examples of government modernisation initiatives in the region.

Earlier, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad arrived in Vienna, leading a delegation of Dubai Government officials and representatives to participate in the UN Forum, which runs until 29 June. He was accompanied by Ahmad Bin Byat, Secretary General of Dubai Executive Council.

During the visit, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan met with members of the delegation and congratulated them on winning the UN award. Commending their efforts in achieving excellence in government services, he urged them to increase their efforts to make Dubai an example for global best practices and service excellence.

Heads of state, representatives of participating countries, officials, dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps, attended the award ceremony. Along with the UAE, a number of initiatives from other countries were also honoured.

HH Sheikh Hamdan said: “The UN award is an international recognition and testimony to the efforts of Dubai Government in promoting innovation. This effort, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime-Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, strives to improve government sector performance to match global standards.

“We are extremely proud of the Dubai Government Excellence Programme’s achievement, which is a result of the progressive policies of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed who issued the directive to establish the programme in 1997. It is the world’s first extensive programme targeted to achieve excellence in government services. We are confident this award will act as an incentive to drive us further in achieving higher targets.”

Guido Bertucci, Director of the Division for Public Economics and Public Administration, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, praised the work of the DGEP and said: "Your achievements reveal a high level of commitment. I am confident DGEP has contributed significantly to the improvement of public administration in your country. We believe this will act as a source of inspiration to others working in government services."

Launched in 2000, the UN award is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It rewards the creative achievements of public service institutions for a more effective and responsive public administration worldwide. The UN Public Service Awards are given in three categories: improving transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in public service; improving the delivery of services and fostering participation in policy-making decisions through innovative mechanisms such as e-government.

The DGEP was launched following a directive by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve higher customer service levels in the government sector.

The DGEP seeks to achieve this objective through a range of strategies to encourage diversity in the working environment, human resource training; use of the latest means of communication and information technology; by exchanging expertise within government departments and the adoption of global best practices.

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