His Highnesses Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum honours 24 establishments and Entrepreneurial Personality of the Year for driving SME excellence in UAE and the Arab world
Dubai - Establishments and individuals demonstrating leadership in entrepreneurial excellence and support initiatives in the UAE and across the Arab world were honoured at the 8th Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders (YBL) ceremony held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, at the Dubai World Trade Centre today.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, honoured 22 public and private sector organisations and outstanding projects, along with the 'Entrepreneurial Personality of the Year' at the ceremony organised by Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector.
The Kafala - SME Finance Guarantee Programme (Best Entrepreneurship Fund Initiative), Wafi (Best Entrepreneurship Shopping Mall), Emirates Group (Best Supporting Entity to the Government Procurement Programme - Private), Jumeirah Group (Top Contracts Provider to small and medium-sized national companies) and Union Co-operative Society (Best Supporting Entity for small and medium-sized national projects - Private) won special awards for their support to SMEs along with Tarifa Al Zaabi (Entrepreneurial Personality of the Year - Female) and Ahmed Al Mazroei (Entrepreneurial Personality of the Year - Male).
Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (Best Supporting Entity to the Government Procurement Programme - Medium size), Dubai Municipality (Best Supporting Entity to the Government Procurement Programme - Small size), ENOC - Emirates National Oil Company (Best Supporting Entity to the Government Procurement Programme - Semi-Government), Higher Colleges of Technology - Women (Best University Promoting Entrepreneurship), Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein Public School for Girls (Best School Promoting Entrepreneurship) and Leading Steps Initiative - Ishraqat Club (Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Promoting Entrepreneurship) were honoured in the 'Supporting Organisations within the UAE - Gold' category.
Salma's Chocolates from Oman (Trading - Best Start-up) and Expo Logistic Services from Saudi Arabia (Services - Best Small Enterprise) were honoured in the Silver category for SME Projects within Arab World.
In the Silver category for SME Projects within the UAE Easy Lease Motorcycle Rental (Services - Best Established), IXTEL and D&A Consult (joint winners in Services - Best Start-up category), Fujairah Auction (Trading - Best Start-up), Massaed Installation of Elevators and Dimara International (joint winners in the Trading - Best Established category), G2day (Best Project in Clothing), Gardens 1971 (Best Project in Young Entrepreneur Competition) and Solar Palm Bio Fuel (Best Innovative Project in Young Entrepreneur Competition) were the winners.
Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for his continued support and patronage for the Awards and the SME community in the UAE and Arab world and said: "His Highness's patronage and guidance helps Dubai SME to support our youth to evolve and excel as entrepreneurs and make their mark in all sectors of economic activity."
Ibtihal Al Naji, General Co-ordinator of YBL said the increasing participation in the Award demonstrates its importance as a measure SME performance and entrepreneur support in the region. "We had entries from over 490 companies in 13 Arab countries in this 8th cycle of the Award. YBL has cemented its position as the premier award for establishments and individuals adding value to the region's SME environment. The winners also underline the role of the Award in promoting entrepreneurship across diverse sectors and in sustaining entrepreneurial growth."
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About Dubai SME
Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED), Government of Dubai, aims to foster an entrepreneurial culture and develop a competitive SME sector for the Emirate of Dubai. The key strategies adopted by Dubai SME are: advocate a pro-business environment for developing entrepreneurship and SMEs, seed innovative start-ups and groom promising SMEs. Dubai SME's vision is to make Dubai the centre for innovative SMEs to start, grow and expand their businesses, thus adding greater value to the economy of Dubai.
For further information, please contact:
Faisal Shamsudheen
Government Communication Division,
Department of Economic Development
Tel: (971 4) 445 5927
Email: faisal.pathiasseri@dubaided.gov.ae
© Press Release 2015
