Panel visits Dubai Customs to learn about CSR

 Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

A delegation from the Community Development Authority visited Dubai Customs to learn more about their experience in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Khalil Saqer Bin Gharib, Director of Corporate Communication Department received the delegation which included Fatima Butti Al Muhairi, Director of Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility and Aisha Saeed Hareb, Head of Corporate Responsibility Section.

Bin Gharib said: “This meeting reflects the healthy and strong relationships between government entities, and we promote and encourage all types of positive cooperation with all public and private authorities as part of our vision at the Corporate Communication Department to enhance the Dubai Customs brand image and promote the CSR efforts in line with Dubai Plan 2021.

“Our CSR initiatives covered many sectors including environmental, health, social and economic sectors and all of them help towards enhanced overall reputation and to achieve a positive impact on society as a whole.

“Dubai Customs has won 35 CSR awards between 2009 and Q3, 2019, and we are the first and only customs department in the world to release a sustainability report that meets the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).”

Director of Communication Department confirmed that scoring 97.49% in the happiness meter was no strange to Dubai Customs which goes above and beyond to promote innovation and develop ideas that serve and secure the society in the best possible way. Dubai Customs has carried out 100 social initiatives during Q3, 2019 that targeted 800,000 individuals.

Recently, Dubai Customs won the innovation platinum award, with a 6-star rating from EFQM Global Excellence Award scoring 700 points, the highest among all participating organisations, according to WAM.

The objective of the EFQM Excellence Award Programme is to recognise Role Model organisations worldwide, whether private, public or non-for-profit. The EFQM Excellence Award Programme is supported by one of the most challenging assessment processes. Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director-General of Dubai Customs received the award in the ceremony held for this occasion in Finland.

“Winning the EFQM award is an international recognition of our leading achievements and the advanced level we reached in Customs innovation,” Musabih commented.

To assess organisations and identify role model practices, an international team of five to seven experienced, specifically trained managers spend one week on site and an average of 500 hours in total per applicant.