In brief
The award ceremony, held in Dubai on 5 November 2026, recognised federal entities, leaders and professionals for excellence in government performance. Sheikh Mohammed also presented the Mohammed bin Rashid Sash to Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan for his decades of service.
Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presided over the 2026 Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award ceremony in Dubai on 5 November, while federal leaders and government ministries were honoured for exceptional performance and dedication.
The ceremony, organised by the UAE Government, attracted a host of senior officials including H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Dubai, and H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Nahyan, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, among other ministers and senior officials from across government ministries and authorities.
WAM reported that a number of federal entities were selected for their remarkable impact in government performance, and the award also honoured national leaders and specialists who set outstanding examples of dedication and service. The event celebrated exemplary projects that advanced national priorities and reinforced the UAE’s global leadership and competitiveness.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed presented the Mohammed bin Rashid Sash to his brother, H.H. Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, recognising his distinguished record of national service and long‑standing contributions to the country.
“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, H.H. 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.”
“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.”
After the exchange of medals and speeches, the event continued with presentations by the winning institutions, each of which highlighted best practices and data‑driven outcomes that exemplified governmental excellence.
According to WAM, the award ceremony was a display of the UAE’s ongoing commitment to building a culture of excellence that transcends organisational boundaries. The event underscored the government’s belief that striving for continual improvement is a key pillar of sustainable governance and national development.
Shortly before the cake cutting, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Nahyan spoke about the strategic importance of recognising emerging talents within the public sector and noted that the awards would foster a spirit of healthy competition and innovation among government entities.
The awards, which have been presented annually for more than three decades, are intended to set a benchmark for public administration and showcase the UAE’s leadership in governance practices. The 2026 ceremony, led by Sheikh Mohammed, reaffirmed the continuation of the awards and the importance of maintaining a culture that pursues ever‑higher standards.
Overall, the 2026 Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award ceremony in Dubai combined national celebration with a tradition of recognising governmental performance, thereby reinforcing the UAE’s reputation as a leading modern state that prioritises governance and public service excellence throughout the region.
