By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: Under the patronage and in the presence of H.E Eng. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Department and member of the Executive Council of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah, the winners of the 13th prestigious cycle of the Arabia CSR Awards were honoured by the Arabia CSR Network (ACSRN) at one of the first public physical events post the COVID-19 outbreak in the UAE yesterday.
Regarded as the ‘Green Oscars of the Middle East,’ the awards recognised the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of 20 green champions from across the region. The winners were adjudged on the basis of international benchmarks such as the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Principles, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model, and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. They were selected from entries from nine countries in the Middle East, covering 34 sectors, including ‘Automotive Industry,’ which was launched this year.
Congratulating the winners, Mrs. Habiba Al Mar’ashi, President & CEO of ACSRN said, “Since the inception of the Arabia CSR Awards in 2008, we have been building the foundation and accelerating the growth of CSR and sustainability best practices in the region. It has been a glorious journey of exploring, commending and sharing the best practices nationally, regionally and globally.
“As we address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and work towards the new reality, the Arab region has yet again proved its perseverance and persistence in undertaking CSR initiatives to enhance the welfare of the community and to preserve the environment while at the same time ensuring the sustainability of their operations and businesses.
“These are vital requirements today and the efforts that the various organisations put into promoting their committed CSR activities deserves recognition. Irrespective of the size or the sector they are operating in, they have shown an unwavering focus on making the world a better place to live through closer collaboration.”
The winners in the various categories are:
- Small Business:
Winner – Al Etihad Energy Services LLC;
1st Runner up – Transworld Group;
2nd Runner up -Acer
- Medium Business:
Winner- Can Pack Middle East LLC
- Large Business:
Winner – Gulf Petrochemicals Industries Company (GPIC);
1st Runner up – Alsayer Group Holding Co.;
2nd Runner up – Accenture Middle East
- Public Sector:
Winner- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority;
1st Runner up – Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Partnerships & Collaborations:
Winner – Gulf Petrochemicals Industries Company (GPIC);
1st Runner up – GPIC and Tristar Group;
2nd Runner up (TIE) – 1) SEDCO Holding and
2) ACWA POWER MAROC
- Energy Sector:
Winner– Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC)
- Financial Services Sector:
Winner- Bank of Africa BMCE Group
- Hospitality Sector:
Winner- Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha;
1st Runner up – Two Seasons Hotel
- Healthcare Sector:
Winner- Aster DM Healthcare
- Automotive Sector:
Special recognition – AVIS Rent-A-Car LLC
This year, United Nations has called for collaborative efforts from public and private sectors around the world to address the impact of COVID-19 and channelise recovery strategies to advance UN Sustainable Development Goals. The winners of the 13th Cycle of Arabia CSR Awards have set the standards of resilience and have raised the bar in the quality of their work, despite the challenging operational situations.
The Awards was sponsored by McDonald’s UAE and Tristar Group. The official Communications Partner is ASDA’A BCW. Climate Control Middle East, The Sustainabilist, Dubai Global News, Mazaj FM, Radio Dahab, 88.4 City FM and Khaleej Times were the media partners. The Arabia CSR Network calls the organisations in the Arab Region to be a part of the prestigious awards in its 14th Cycle to be launched in January 2021.
