16th Arabia CSR Awards felicitates 41‘Sustainability Champions’ of the Arab world

• 16^th cycle of the acclaimed ‘Green Oscars of the Middle East’ celebrates the exemplary CSR/sustainability champions from across the Arab world
• Applicants were meticulously evaluated against a stringent criteria aligned with international benchmarks such as the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact, GRI Standards, the European Foundation for Quality Management model (EFQM) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 

The curtains came down yesterday on the 16^th Arabia Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards, following a ceremony commemorating the winners at the Anantara Downtown Hotel in Dubai. Popularly known as the ‘Green Oscars of the Middle East’, the 16^th Arabia CSR Awards was held under the patronage of H.H. 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.

Launched in 2008, the home-grown accolade of the Arab region receives external verification from DNV, a globally recognised provider of business assurance. The Award has earned credibility, respect and recognition through the international frameworks and principles incorporated into its methodologies such as the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact, Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance, GRI Standards framework, EFQM business excellence model and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The awards ceremony was generously sponsored by esteemed entities including Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East and McDonald’s UAE. The 16^th Arabia CSR Awards was recognised as a carbon neutral event courtesy of FARNEK, effectively counter balancing any emissions arising from transportation or other related activities.

In her welcome note at the gala event, Habiba Al Mar’ashi, Founder, President, and CEO of the Arabia CSR Network, said: “The Arabia CSR Awards go beyond the confines of a conventional recognition programme. It is a dynamic platform that enriches education and proficiency, amplifies experiential knowledge and fosters the dissemination of best practices. Through this, it prominently showcases champions and role models within the Arab world. As the UAE commemorates the Year of Sustainability in 2023 and gears up to host COP28 next month, we currently find ourselves at a critical juncture, facing a paramount decision — to persist in operating our businesses and lives in an unsustainable manner or to wholeheartedly embrace the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

In his address on the occasion, H.H. Eng. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, said: “The Arabia CSR Network persistently forges ahead, taking resolute strides to propel and elevate sustainability in the Arab region. The successful culmination of yet another cycle of the Arabia CSR Awards stands as a testament to this commitment. I wholeheartedly commit my support to all its initiatives, spanning local, regional and global domains, with the aim to facilitate, foster and cultivate sustainability not only regionally but also on an international scale. In harmonious collaboration, we have the potential to effectuate positive transformations concerning climate issues and develop a global hub for a sustainable and environmentally conscious economy.”

The debut of the annual Arabia CSR Awards 16 years ago coincided with the birth of a nascent stage of CSR and sustainability in the Arab world. The initiative was conceived to enlighten, inspire and incentivise entities to embrace social responsibility, ethical business practices and a culture of transparency. The Awards hold a well-defined purpose: to advocate for and explore the latest regional CSR and sustainability advancements, trends and benchmarks. In pursuit of this goal, over the past 16 years, the programme has steadfastly acknowledged and celebrated entities that have displayed exceptional leadership and dedication to CSR and sustainability.

Since inception, the Arabia CSR Awards have attracted 1,585 registrations from over 1,340 organisations belonging to 14 Arab countries and covering more than 44 sectors.

The current cycle received applications from all around the Arab region spanning a diverse spectrum of industries, affirming the region’s commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility. An independent jury panel scrupulously oversaw the evaluation process. The results were externally validated through a reputed third-party entity. The assessments and feedback from the jury were diligently shared with the applicants, offering valuable insights by delineating both strengths and weaknesses and providing constructive recommendations.

This iterative methodology has played a pivotal role in enabling several organisations to refine their sustainability strategies and blueprints every year. Repeated winners of the awards have acknowledged the crucial role of the Arabia CSR Awards, particularly the jury assessment, in enriching their knowledge and proficiency in Environmental, Social, and Governance practices.

List of Winners:

Large Public Sector Category

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority – Winner

Municipality and Planning Department – Ajman – 1^st Runner Up

Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) – 2^nd Runner Up

Public Prosecution Dubai – Special Recognition

Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing – Special Recognition

Small Public Sector Category

Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah – Winner

Al Ain Distribution Company – Special Recognition

Large Business Category       

Accenture ME – Winner

Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company – Winner

BAPCO – 1^st Runner Up

Tristar Transport – 2^nd Runner Up (Tie)

Les Eaux Minerales D’Oulmes – 2^nd Runner Up (Tie)

VFS Global – Special Recognition

Medium Business Category  

Canpack Middle East One Person Company LLC – Winner (Tie)

Bin Dasmal Engineering Technologies & Management – Winner (Tie)

CROWN Emirates Co. Ltd. – 1^st Runner Up

Retal Urban Development Company – 2^nd Runner Up

Small Business Category       

Transworld Group – Winner

Labotel Workers Village – 1^st Runner Up

ISS Relocations – 2^nd Runner Up

Financial Services Category  

Jordan Ahli Bank – Winner

Cooperative & Agricultural Credit Bank (CAC BANK) – 1^st Runner Up

Bank of Africa – 2^nd Runner Up

Energy Sector Category         

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) – Winner

Saudi Aramco – Ras Tanura Producing Department – 1^st Runner Up

Masdar – 2^nd Runner

Hospitality Sector Category 

Two Seasons Hotel & Apartments – Winner

Conrad Dubai – 1^st Runner Up

FIVE Holdings – 2^nd Runner Up (Tie)

Delta Hotels by Marriott Jumeirah Beach – 2^nd Runner Up

Healthcare Sector Category  

Aster DM Healthcare – Winner

Emirates Health Services – 1^st Runner Up

Royal Bahrain Hospital – 2^nd Runner Up

Construction Sector Category          

China State Construction Engineering Corporation (Middle East) – Winner

Automotive Industry Category        

Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer & Sons Est. Co. – Winner

Partnerships and Collaborations Category  

Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters/Community Police Department – Winner (Tie)

Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) – Winner (Tie)

Aldar Properties – 1^st Runner Up (Tie)

SEDCO Holding – 1^st Runner Up (Tie)

Arada – 2^nd Runner Up (Tie)

Jusoor Foundation – 2^nd Runner Up (Tie)