Sharjah: His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, honoured the winners of the 13th Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA), organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), on Monday morning at the Sheraton Hotel.

The ceremony began with the UAE national anthem, followed by a video presentation viewed by His Highness and attendees. The video highlighted the award’s mission to recognise institutions and individuals who use communication to serve society, build trust and address development challenges, while celebrating practices whose results and impact are supported by clear evidence. It also highlighted the award’s role in advancing communication through its diverse tracks, encompassing institutional work, individual contributions, practical challenges, honorary categories and specialised partnerships.

Communication as a force for development
Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB, delivered a speech in which he affirmed that communication represents a form of soft power that contributes to the advancement of societies and drives development by raising awareness, building trust and bringing institutions closer to their communities. He noted that the true value of communication is measured by its positive and lasting impact on people’s lives.

Allay reviewed the award’s journey, which began with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to celebrate outstanding communication experiences. He explained that the award had attracted more than 9,500 entries over the past five years. In its 13th edition, it continues to develop its fields and address contemporary issues, particularly quality of life, cultural identity, youth empowerment and social responsibility, alongside the use of artificial intelligence, stronger international partnerships and the exchange of expertise.

The Director General of SGMB concluded by emphasising the importance of recognising experiences and ideas that have helped bring positive change to communities. He praised communication professionals and their role in transforming initiatives into opportunities that improve people’s lives, reinforce trust and create lasting impact.

Jury recommendations address AI and digital challenges
Media professional Ali Jaber, a member of the SGCA jury, delivered the jury’s statement. He affirmed that the world is undergoing a fundamental transformation driven by the rapid development of artificial intelligence, which now directly affects the media and communication industry and is reshaping numerous professions and jobs. He stressed the importance of government institutions keeping pace with these changes, understanding their implications and challenges, and preparing to address the risks they pose, particularly misinformation, deepfakes and cyberattacks.

Jaber explained that the jury had taken these transformations into account when assessing the entries. He noted that 433 submissions from 31 countries across four continents had passed the initial screening stage.

He outlined four recommendations to develop the award and government communication practices: expanding recognition under the Best Official Spokesperson category to include supporting teams and individuals; studying the use of an AI agent in the initial screening of submissions while retaining human responsibility for judging decisions; developing the criterion for responsible and innovative AI use; and strengthening the criteria for assessing crisis communication strategies to address misinformation, deepfakes and digital crises.

Jaber thanked SGMB for its efforts to develop the award, strengthen its standing, facilitate the exchange of expertise and improve government communication practices. He commended the jury members for their time, work and professional responsibility in reaching the results, congratulated the winners and acknowledged the contributions of all entrants. He also expressed his hope for the award’s continued development and the consolidation of its position as a global benchmark for the quality and effectiveness of government communication.

Special recognition for the Ministry of Defence
His Highness presented special recognition to the UAE Ministry of Defence in appreciation of its national role in protecting the country’s security and safeguarding its achievements, and the values of sacrifice, loyalty and responsibility it embodies.

The recognition also acknowledged the ministry’s efforts to strengthen national communication and foster trust and reassurance within society, reflecting its close ties with the people of the UAE. It affirmed that protecting people and preserving social stability is a mission in which the strength of defence complements the strength of communication.

Brigadier General Pilot Abdulnasser Mohammed Al Humaidi, Official Spokesperson for the UAE Ministry of Defence, received the Outstanding Leadership in Government and Strategic Communication, presented in cooperation with the Department of Government Relations. The award recognised his role in government communication and media representation of the ministry, his contribution to conveying national messages clearly, accurately and professionally, and his efforts to strengthen effective engagement with the public.

His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Federal National Council Affairs, received the jury award in the Best Arab Personality with Positive Social Impact, while the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity received the jury’s Global Impact through Soft Power award.

Youth, quality of life and crisis communication awards
His Highness, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, also honoured the winners across the various SGCA categories.

Under the Best Communication Targeting Youth award, Sharjah Youth took first place in the Best Campaigns Positively Impacting Youth Awareness and Practices category for its “Your Summer With Us” campaign. The Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi won the Best Communication Programme Supporting Emerging Projects and Youth category.

Sharjah Police took first place in the Outstanding Communication Award for a Higher Quality of Life category.

The UAE Ministry of Finance received the Best Innovation in Integrated Communications award, while the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority won the Best Crisis Communication Strategy award category.

Government, international organisation and private sector awards
In the awards for government entities, international organisations and the private sector, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism won the Best Communication and Media Content award in the government sector category, while Egypt Oil & Gas from the Arab Republic of Egypt won in the private sector category.

Dubai’s Community Development Authority won the Best Innovative Communication Initiative for Community Empowerment award in the government sector category, while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees won in the private sector category.

The UAE Ministry of Culture, representing the government sector, and Kalimat Foundation, representing the private sector, took first place in the Best Creative Communication Targeting Children and Adolescents category.

Under the Best Campaigns Promoting Cultural Identity and the Arabic Language award, the UAE Government Media Office took first place in the Best Campaigns Promoting Emirati Identity category. House of Wisdom took first place in the Best Campaigns Promoting Cultural Identity and the Arabic Language category.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment took first place in the Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in Government and Institutional Communication category.

Individual awards and digital content creators
In the individual awards, Basmat Nour Association won the Best Youth Initiative in Communication award, while Lieutenant Colonel Salem bin Ali of Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs received the Best Official Spokesperson award.

Dr Himanshu Grover, Dr Niharika Kushwaha, Dr Varkey Pallathucheril and Nahla Shireen received the Best Research in Communication Sciences award.

Under the Best Changemaker in Digital Content award, Yousef Karam from the UAE won the award for the best changemaker under 18, while Maryam Derni from the Kingdom of Morocco won the award for the best changemaker over 18.

Creative competitions in smart communication
In the creative competition awards in smart communication, Khalifa University’s “Sanad” project won the University Challenge, held in cooperation with United Arab Emirates University.

The “Shaheen” project won the AI Skills Camp award, held in cooperation with the Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators.

Partner awards
In the partner awards, Macau University of Science and Technology received the Excellence in Digital Community Engagement award.

“Zoud”, the UAE initiative for financial sustainability and wellbeing affiliated with the Central Bank of the UAE, received the Best Public–Private Partnership in Communication award.

The “Haqdarshak” platform took first place in the Best AI-Powered Communication for Community Service category. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation from the Kingdom of Thailand won the Best Communication Practices for Developmental Transitions award, while “Kyiv Digital” took first place in the Innovative and Resilient Government Communication Initiatives category.

His Highness, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, also honoured the chairperson and members of the SGCA jury, whose efforts and expertise contributed to the success of this edition, as well as the members of the screening committee.

Advancing professional practice and measurable impact
The Sharjah Government Communication Award aims to strengthen professional practices and encourage innovation in government and institutional communication by highlighting experiences that achieve tangible results and contribute to building trust, raising awareness and encouraging community participation.

It also seeks to empower young talent, content creators and researchers, and provide a platform for institutions and sectors to exchange knowledge and expertise. The award continues to develop its categories and criteria to keep pace with changes in the communication sector, including the use of AI, the promotion of Emirati identity, community empowerment and innovation in integrated communication systems.

As part of efforts to develop its evaluation framework, the award adopted a unified judging methodology based on results and impact, strategies and plans, and implementation quality. This approach strengthens objectivity and transparency in assessing submissions and provides an opportunity to showcase outstanding experiences and benefit from their success.

Through its partnerships and the diversity of its entries, the award also seeks to broaden opportunities for global cooperation and the exchange of expertise, and to share successful practices that improve quality of life and support sustainable development. These efforts reflect its belief that the true value of communication lies in the positive change it brings to people’s lives.

Attendance
Attending the ceremony alongside His Highness were Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations; Sheikh Saud bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of the Sharjah Digital Department; Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director General of the Rubu’ Qarn for Creating Leaders and Innovators; His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture; His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Federal National Council Affairs; Her Excellency Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; and His Excellency Lieutenant General Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence.

The ceremony was also attended by senior officials, heads and directors of government departments and authorities, and representatives of entities participating in the award.