Business

This page contains details about the awards that the UAE Government presents to people and institutes that promote business and economy of the UAE.

Business
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Emirates Labour Market Award

The Emirates Labour Market Award celebrates the efforts of private sector establishments, outstanding employees, and highlights successful practices in the UAE’s labour market. It was launched under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

 

Objectives

The award aims to:

  • enhance the competitiveness of the UAE’s labour market
  • recognise excellence in workplace practices, protect employees’ rights and motivate employees
  • enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of the workforce in the private sector.
  • increase the productivity and efficiency of the UAE’s labour market.

Categories

The award includes five main categories:

  1. Establishments - this category acknowledges establishments that have adopted the best practices for its human resources.
  2. Workforce – acknowledges the contributions of distinguished workers in serving both their workplaces and the wider UAE community.
  3. Labour Accommodation – awarded to accommodations applying the best standards in labour accommodations and those that support and implement sustainable initiatives to improve labour welfare.
  4. Business Services Partners – this category recognises business services agencies, recruitment and employment agencies that have developed the best-in-class labour market practices.
Special Recognition – awarded to companies with best practices that have a positive impact on the UAE labour market, as well as to social media influencers who have contributed to raising awareness on laws, policies 

Make it in the Emirates Awards

Make it in the Emirates Awards from Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology will honour organisations and individuals who are shaping the future of the industrial sector by highlighting their innovations, excellence and achievements. It also seeks to inspire others to follow their footsteps and contribute to the objectives of the UAE’s National Industrial Strategy.

Make it in the Emirates Awards includes ten categories under four main pillars as follows:

  1. factory of the future
  2. In-Country Value (ICV) contribution
  3. industry enablers
  4. leadership and talent.

It is open to any company or individual that meets the criteria of any of the awards’ categories.

Learn more about Make it in the Emirates Awards and how to apply.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held at the annual Make it in the Emirates Forum.

UAE Award for Market Leadership

The UAE Award for Market Leadership aims to recognize the efforts of the private sector enterprises, honour leading businessmen and employees, and highlight the competitiveness of the country’s labour market.

The Nafis award

The Nafis award is given to private sector establishments that excel in hiring UAE nationals. It also honours talented Emiratis in the private sector, who prove to be an effective force in various economic sectors.

The award aims to encourage companies to increase Emiratisation rates. It seeks to motivate the UAE nationals to join the private sector and contribute to the national economy.

It is given in three categories which are:

  • private companies that are registered on the Nafis platform and achieve Emiratisation targets
  • Emirati employees and trainees in the private sector who show excellent performance and continuous learning, adaptation and positive citizenship, results and achievements
  • strategic government and semi-government partners of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council for their efforts in achieving the Council’s vision with regards to Emiratisation.

The results of the first cycle of the award will be announced during the first quarter of 2023.

Read more about the Nafis award and the steps to apply.

Find Nafis Awards Guide (PDF, 2.67 MB)

Read news coverage on WAM.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Excellence Award

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Excellence Award (MRM) was established in 2005 to embrace all GCC businesses in the journey of excellence. It aims to recognise and celebrate the success of these organisations who are leading the way to establish new business excellence standards and whose continuous and outstanding achievements serve as an inspiration for all like-minded organisations across the GCC.

Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders

Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders is instituted by Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for the development of small and medium enterprises, to establish a competitive environment for entrepreneurs in the UAE and abroad, to honour exceptional business and individual pioneers and reward their contribution to the development of the SMEs in the UAE and the Arab world.

Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award

The Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (SKEA) was launched by Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1999 as a blue print, a roadmap and a methodology for continuous improvement aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the business sector in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

Updated on:

06 Oct 2025