His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended a ceremony honouring government entities, leaders and outstanding professionals who won the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award 2026. His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, attended the event.

Organised by the UAE Government, the award ceremony was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Lt. General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with ministers, senior officials, and government leaders.

The winners included federal entities that achieved remarkable impact in government performance, and national leaders and professionals who set outstanding examples of dedication and service. Exceptional achievers and projects that advanced national priorities and strengthened the UAE’s leadership and global competitiveness were also recognised.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “Today, we attended the ceremony honouring the winners of the Government Excellence Award 2026. We honoured the leading federal entities and the government’s finest directors and specialists. The highlight of the ceremony was honouring my brother, His Highness Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, with the Mohammed bin Rashid Sash, in recognition of his distinguished record of national service and his contributions to the country over many decades.”

His Highness added: “We congratulate all the winners of the excellence awards, which we introduced more than 30 years ago. We will continue them, because excellence is not a destination. It is a mindset and a culture. A mindset that strives for a perfection it never reaches. A mindset that constantly redefines success and has the courage to keep changing and experimenting. Excellence is one of the virtues of good governance.” 

During the ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented His Highness Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan with the Mohammed bin Rashid Sash in recognition of a lifetime of national service and his significant contributions to building the UAE and developing its institutions. Sheikh Suroor was among the men who stood alongside the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan during the founding of the nation. He helped bring Sheikh Zayed’s vision of a modern state to life and develop vital sectors that became cornerstones of the UAE’s development.

Government entities honoured
His Highness also honoured three government entities with the Leading Federal Entity Award for Excellence in Sustainability. The award recognises their success in maintaining excellence over successive cycles, embedding it as a lasting institutional approach, and sustaining advanced levels of performance and continuous improvement. The winners were the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Leading federal entities, exceptional projects
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, honoured the winners of the main institutional categories. The Leading Federal Entity Award for ministries with more than 500 employees went to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, while the award for ministries with fewer than 500 employees went to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.

Among authorities, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security won in the category of more than 500 employees, and the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources won in the category of fewer than 500 employees. The Most Improved Entity award for ministries was shared by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Community Empowerment, while the Most Improved Entity award for authorities went to the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat. 

National achievers and distinguished entities
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, honoured the winners of the institutional subcategories. The Best Entity Contributing to the UAE’s Global Leadership and Competitiveness award went to the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, and the Best Entity in Adopting Innovative Solutions award went to the Ministry of Interior.