Sheikh Mohammed honors winners of UAE’s 2026 Government Excellence Awards

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, honored the winners of the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award 2026, recognizing federal entities and public sector professionals for their contributions to government performance, innovation and national development.

The awards highlighted achievements in areas such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, digital transformation, healthcare, and government and public service, reflecting the UAE’s efforts to improve government efficiency and strengthen its global competitiveness.

“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,” Sheikh Mohammed said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to continuous improvement, experimentation and innovation.

During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed presented Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan with the Mohammed bin Rashid Sash in recognition of his decades of national service and contributions to the UAE’s development.

Sheikh Suroor worked alongside the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan during the country’s founding and helped establish institutions and develop key sectors.

Three federal ministries also received the Leading Federal Entity Award for Excellence in Sustainability. The Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs were recognized for maintaining high performance standards across successive evaluation cycles.

Sheikh Mansour presented the main institutional awards, naming the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation the leading ministry with more than 500 employees, while the Ministry of Economy and Tourism won among smaller ministries.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security was recognized as the leading authority with more than 500 employees, while the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources won in the category for smaller authorities.

The awards also recognized federal entities using emerging technologies and new approaches to improve public services.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources won the Best Entity in Artificial Intelligence Applications award, while the Ministry of Interior was named Best Entity in Adopting Innovative Solutions.

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority received the award for Best Entity Contributing to the UAE’s Global Leadership and Competitiveness.

Other winners included the Ministry of Justice, recognized for developing legislation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which received the award for proactivity and future readiness.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment shared the Best Entity in Partnership and Integration award.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Community Empowerment shared the Most Improved Entity award among ministries, while the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat received the corresponding recognition among federal authorities.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award is the UAE’s highest recognition for government excellence, designed to encourage innovation, improve institutional performance, and raise the quality of public services.