Sheikh Mohammed honours UAE government excellence award winners for 2026

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the UAE's Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai's ruler, honoured federal institutions and public servants in the 2026 Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award. The ceremony took place at Expo City Dubai, The National reported.

A separate honour, the Mohammed bin Rashid Sash, went to Sheikh Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. The National and Economy Middle East reported that Sheikh Mohammed presented it in recognition of his long service to the country and contribution to its development.

Sheikh Mohammed congratulated the winners and said efforts to improve government performance would continue. He described excellence as a way of thinking and working, rather than an endpoint, according to both reports.

Among the institutional recipients, the ministries of Interior, Finance and Foreign Affairs were honoured for maintaining excellence over time. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation took the leading-entity prize for ministries employing more than 500 people.

Artificial intelligence featured in both institutional and individual awards. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources was recognised for its AI applications, while Federal Tax Authority official Abdullah Ghuloom Al Bastaki received the Prime Minister's Medal as the best chief AI officer.

In education, Maimouna Hashem Al Muaini received the Prime Minister's Medal for school leadership. She is principal of Zayed Educational Complex in Dubai, the reports said.

Special recognition also went to two initiatives: Make it in the Emirates, run by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Hayat, the Ministry of Health and Prevention's organ donation programme.

More than 130 experts from the UAE and overseas took part in evaluating entrants, according to The National. Economy Middle East reported that the cycle covered 30 federal entities, with 57 leaders and 236 government employees nominated for the Prime Minister's Medals.

Economy Middle East said assessors examined results and impact through a 360-degree approach, taking account of views from government, society, service users and employees. The assessment therefore covered institutional performance as well as the experiences of those delivering and receiving services.

The award began in 2009. Economy Middle East reported that it was introduced under the Sheikh Khalifa Government Excellence Programme, established in 2006. The National said the awards take place every two years.