Tag Archives: dubai
Star Rating is open to local, foreign governments: Shaikh Mohammed
Star Rating is open to local, foreign governments: Shaikh Mohammed Staff Report / 2 March 2014 The Star Rating Initiative intends to bring about a quantum leap in the efficiency of government services as per global standards. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has invited UAE’s local governments and other foreign governments to join the Star Rating Initiative for Customer Service Centres, which is similar to the hotel industry’s ratings. Launched last week, the Star Rating Initiative intends to bring about a quantum leap in the efficiency of government services as per global standards. Shaikh Mohammed announced earlier that the Star Rating system is obligatory and will be applied on 400 Federal Government’s service centres. The new rating system will give a number of stars from two stars to seven stars based on world’s private sector standards to indicate the level of service to the clients with the participation of foreign evaluators. Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi said that the UAE Government has received several inquiries about the project from other governments. Accordingly, Shaikh Mohammed has issued his directives to promptly provide all the detailed manuals, guidelines, assessment handbooks and technical support to all local UAE governments and other foreign governments. Al Gergawi explained that the Star Rating Initiative project contains many technical details related to service quality assessment, customer relations management, human resources and technical applications; and all patents and copyrights are officially registered for the UAE Federal Government and approved by the Arab League as standardised specifications for customers’ services. The project aims at changing the concept of the government sector’s services in general in order to be more competitive with the private sector in addition to meeting the needs of the clients. It also establishes a new and transparent model in customer service as well as manages the expectations of the public when dealing with the centres for government services. So far, 75 Federal Government services centres had been evaluated. The classification is based on a comprehensive and integrated operational evaluation processes. By the end of each evaluation, the centre receives detailed recommendations to improve and enhance its services in eight standards: strategic alignment, customer centricity, services, service delivery channels, customer experience, service efficiency & innovation, people and technology. (With inputs from Wam) news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Throwing light on history of Islam: The Clusters of Light
Throwing light on history of Islam: The Clusters of Light Staff Reporter / 27 February 2014 The Clusters of Light show to kick off celebration on Sharjah winning Islamic Culture Capital title Celebrating the selection of Sharjah as the Islamic Culture Capital of the Arab region 2014, the emirate is all set to host the world’s greatest oratorio about the story of Islam called ‘The Clusters of Light’. The show will be performed from March 26 to April 5 at the Dh120-million Open Majaz Island Theatre, marking the inauguration of the festivities on winning the title. Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Executive Committee Chairman for the Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 celebrations, said that five epical performances will dramatise the journey back to the times of darkness, struggle and challenges that led Muslim believers to the beginnings of Islam and tell the story of its great early accomplishments. “It will be a gift from Sharjah to the entire world that celebrates Islam and its history,” Shaikh Sultan said. “We are confident that the audience will witness a show so spectacular that it will remain in their memories forever.” He said that this ground-breaking performance is the culmination of the vision of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to celebrate human values of Islam. ‘The Clusters of Light’ is a monumental artistic theatrical display through which the Emirate of Sharjah seeks to provide a true picture of Islam, and its human values that promote peace and love,” he added Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed announcing the programme. Termed as the largest theatrical and musical production ever to be made, the oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. It was written by Saudi poet Dr Abdul Rahman Al Ashmawi, and composed by Bahraini artiste Khalid Al Sheikh. More than 200 performers from around the world will participate in this musical composition led by four Arab stars, Hussien Al Jasmi, Lotfi Bouchnak, Ali El Hajjar, and Mohammed Assaf. The oratorio will include a narration of the biography of Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, from his birth until his demise. A short film about the display’s production, which will include filming tours in several Arab and foreign countries, will also be shown. The Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 celebrations include more than 24 heritage, tourism, cultural, and construction projects, as well as more than 100 activities throughout the Emirate over the year. The Open Majaz Island Theatre, the first of its kind in the region, is the official venue for the celebrations. It is a semi-circular theatre, reminiscent of ancient Roman designs, covering an area of over 7,200 square metres. It can accommodate up to 4,500. A Dh13-million bridge between the man-made island and Khalid Lagoon Street serves as an easy access for visitors to the Open Majaz Island Theatre. lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Shaikh Mohammed to unveil plaques of five-star centres
Shaikh Mohammed to unveil plaques of five-star centres (Wam) / 26 February 2014 Vice-President says diligent work teams deserve praise and appreciation while unveiling five-star plate at Traffic and Licensing Centre in Fujairah. Federal government customer service centres serve as the real ground of competition among public service providers to deliver world-class services to the local community, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has said, and added the new Star Rating Initiative, which he launched on Monday, will generate true leaders who deserve “our thanks and commendation”. All federal government customer service centres will abide by the Star Rating Initiative. Intended to bring about a quantum leap in the efficiency of government services as per global standards, the system rates public service centres with a number of stars (from two to seven) by placing a special plate at the entrance of each federal customer service centre. Shaikh Mohammed inaugurated Phase 1 of the evaluation and classification of 75 government service centres according to the new Star Rating Initiative on Monday. Three centres obtained the 5-star rating, and Shaikh Mohammed unveiled the first plate at the Customer Service Centre of the Ministry of Justice, Abu Dhabi. Thirty-three centres received a 4-star rating and 39 centres received a 3-star rating. The evaluation and classification process will continue to cover all federal customer service centres by the end of 2014. Shaikh Mohammed made his remarks during a visit to the Traffic and Licensing Centre in Fujairah on Tuesday to unveil a five-star plate which the centre obtained. Shaikh Mohammed pledged to unveil the five-star plaque of the centres himself, saying that diligent work teams deserve praise and appreciation. The Vice-President took a tour of the traffic centre, which is run by 173 employee and provides 77 government services to 110,000 people. Last year, the centre processed 200,000 transactions. During his tour, Shaikh Mohammed thanked the employees for their continuous dedication and diligence to improve public services and promised to revisit them in case they add more stars. In a speech on the occasion, Shaikh Mohammed said, “Direct dealing with the customers carries both tremendous challenges and opportunities at the same time and the true leader is one who succeeds on the ground and who can achieve the highest rate of customer satisfaction. This applies to all — from the head of the government to the junior employee — because the criteria of real success in government work are to serve public interest and create opportunities for them to achieve happiness for themselves and their families.” The UAE is the first country in the world to adopt this rating system for government service centres based on a comprehensive operational framework that emulates the standards applied in hotels, banks and aviation companies. The project is part of the Emirates Government Service Excellence Programme and is managed by the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs. It embodies the practical steps to develop government services according to the international standards and rate all federal customer service centres based on the development of services and responding to customers’ requests. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Musabbah Rashid Al Fattan, Director-General of the Dubai Ruler’s Court; Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-General of Dubai Protocol Department; and Brigadier Ahmed Mohammed Ghanem, Commander-in-Chief of Fujairah Police. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
