On 5 November 2026, the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award ceremony took place in Dubai, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, presiding over the event. The awards celebrated federal entities, leaders and professionals who had delivered outstanding performance across the UAE’s public sector, advancing national priorities and enhancing the country’s global competitiveness.
The audience included several high‑ranking UAE officials: His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence; H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Lt. General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; and H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; alongside various ministers, senior officials and other government leaders.
During the ceremony, awardees were recognised for their concrete achievements. Federal entities received accolades for their measurable impact on government performance, while national leaders and professionals were honoured for setting exemplary standards of dedication and service. Several projects that strengthened the UAE’s leadership and global competitiveness were also highlighted.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Mohammed bin Rashid Sash to H.H. Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Mohammed remarked that the sash was awarded to Sheikh Suroor in recognition of his distinguished record of national service and his contributions to the country over many decades.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed added:
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.Sheikh Mohammed concluded that the award would continue to thrive 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.”
These words reflected the broader vision of the UAE government to embed excellence as a core value in public administration and to recognise those who demonstrate it every day, reinforcing the nation’s position as a global leader in governance.
