Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (SKEA) is instrumental in helping raise benchmarks for operational excellence across the private sector by driving productivity, fostering innovation and promoting sustainable business practices, according to winners of the 22nd edition of the award.
This year's edition focused on encouraging organisations to adopt best practices, harness advanced technologies and data-driven solutions, and develop agile, sustainable business models that support Abu Dhabi's economic priorities and long-term growth.
The winners included VIAI Technologies, Specialised Rehabilitation Hospital, Kanoo Energy, Nakheel Hygienic Paper Manufacturing, Circa Biotech, Low Calories Restaurants, and Gulf Extrusion Automotive & Industries.
They were recognised for outstanding achievements across innovation, healthcare, sustainability, manufacturing, energy and entrepreneurship.
Aletihad spoke to three of this year's winners about the achievements behind their success, the impact of the award and their future ambitions.
Raman Marwaha, General Manager of Kanoo Energy, which was recognised for its contribution to the energy and industrial sectors by providing integrated engineering solutions and advanced services, said the company's transformation from a traditional trading business into an engineering and manufacturing leader was the key achievement behind the award.
He highlighted the company's major projects, including the commissioning of Abu Dhabi's first distributed CCHP power plant, the GCC's first CO2 capture plant from a gas engine facility and setting up the world's largest modular CO2 plant.
"This wasn't incremental improvement; it represented threefold business growth in four years, built primarily on localised, in-house engineering rather than relying on all imported solutions," Marwaha said.
He said the transformation directly supports the UAE's priorities in innovation, sustainability and industrial competitiveness. Reflecting on the award, he described it as "a validation moment more than a starting point".
"It has confirmed that our operating discipline, from 97% employee retention to 96% customer satisfaction and over 120% Emiratisation compliance, is world-class by national standards, not just industry standards."
Dr Haythem Riahi, Founder and CEO of Circa Biotech, a leading innovator in sustainable biotechnology, said the company's recognition was driven by its pioneering bioconversion platform, which transforms food waste into insect protein for animal feed, organic fertiliser and insect oil for sustainable aviation fuel.
"We built a new industrial category in the UAE from scratch," he said, explaining that the company obtained the country's first licence in industrial insect farming while developing intellectual property that supports the UAE's food security, net-zero and competitiveness ambitions.
Riahi said the award has strengthened the company's credibility with investors, partners and government entities."The SKEA recognition validated that operational excellence and national strategic alignment can coexist in a single company," he said.
Dr Mishal AlQasimi, Chief Executive Officer of Specialised Rehabilitation Hospital and Health Shield Medical Centre, said the award recognised years of organisational transformation.
"Our achievement was not based on a single initiative but on a sustained organisational transformation built on clinical excellence, patient-centred care, strong governance, digital transformation, and a culture of continuous improvement," he said.
Winning the award, he added, reinforces the hospital's reputation while creating new opportunities for growth and innovation. "It strengthens our reputation as one of the region's leading rehabilitation hospitals and motivates us to continue delivering exceptional care that transforms patients' lives."
