Dubai Properties Group's AFAAQ Sets Pace for Enhanced Operational Excellence 

First Year of Scheme Sees Successful Implementation of Employee Suggestions

From right to left: Yaqoob Al Zarooni, Deputy CEO, Dubai Properties, presenting the AFFAQ award to Ali Mohammed

Dubai: 28 August, 2008 – Dubai Properties Group  (DPG), a member of Dubai Holding, today announced its suggestion and rewards scheme ‘AFAAQ’ has resulted in significantly higher operational excellence, optimizing efficiency and delivering improved services to its customers and clients during its first year of implementation.

Employees who submitted best suggestions in five categories were honoured by DPG at AFAAQ’s first anniversary celebrations held at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.
Since its launch in August 2007, AFAAQ has drawn suggestions from nearly 60 per cent of the employees. Revolving around improvements and innovation in different areas of the business including people, customers, the community and society at large, the scheme adopts a systemized, fair and transparent evaluation process of all suggestions received, of which a large number have already been implemented.

Every quarter, the best suggestions among five categories were recognized and nominated for the grand annual prize. The final winners were selected from among these quarterly winners.

 Billy Daly, Group COO of Dubai Properties Group, said:

AFAAQ was founded with the objective to foster an environment of improvement and quality, while reflecting DPG’s guiding principles of innovation and excellence.As a customer-focused and people-centric organisation, Dubai Properties Group has established a close-knit community of professionals who fully endorse a dedication to operational and service excellence. The AFAAQ programme effectively reflects their collaborative efforts, innovative thinking, and motivation to aim higher and achieve greater success.

Well attended by employees from DPG’s subsidiary entities, the awards ceremony also saw the demonstration of best practices, including a segment on the Lifecycle of your Suggestion.
AFAAQ promotes the streamlining of internal processes and employee involvement in organizational operations. Each DPG staff member is familiarized with the scheme through an orientation process, while campaigns are organized throughout the year to encourage the development and implementation of innovative ideas.

Highlighting the company’s pioneering management practices, Dubai Properties Group presented the AFAAQ scheme earlier this year at the third Ideas Arabia International Conference as a Gold sponsor. During the event, AFAAQ generated considerable interest among the Middle East and international industry professionals.

Notes to Editors

About Dubai Properties Group

Dubai Properties Group (DPG), a member of Dubai Holding, is a pioneering community developer that offers integrated and holistic services in real estate, retail, and hospitality and lifestyle management. Dubai Properties Group was established in 2008 to consolidate the operation growth of Dubai Properties” different divisions into distinct business units. This evolution came from Dubai properties entity which aimed to contribute to the growth of Dubai by conceiving, developing and enhancing unique business projects.

 With six synergetic lines of business, the Dubai Properties Group offers a sustained level of quality and excellence through its subsidiaries comprising Dubai Properties for customer service, sales and marketing interface; Salwan for property management services company; Injaz for the development of fully sustainable communities; Dubai Retail as the retail services company; Dubai Asset Management as the facilities management provider and community security services and Dubai Hospitality, as the hospitality field company.

 Founded on principles of transparency, accountability, and dedicated customer focus, Dubai Properties Group aspires to become the best partner in providing unique lifestyles, by creating a world class organization that offers a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise through its people. DPG will constantly seek new and innovative ways in delivering comprehensive end-to-end solutions for its stakeholders, investors and business partners. In pursuing its ambitious objectives, DPG consciously works towards raising the benchmark of environmental standards while striving to reduce its carbon footprint in the countries and communities where it seeks a presence.

For further information, please contact:

Jan Dabrowa
Jiwin
Tel: +971 4 374 8566
Fax: + 971 4 3688001
E-mail: jan.dabrowa@jiwin.ae

Or

Lubna Habib
JiWin
Tel: +971 4 3613333
Fax: + 971 4 3688001
Mob: +971 50 4824185
E-mail: lubna.habib@jiwin.ae

Or

Lama Kabbani
Dubai Properties
Tel: +971 4 4351247
Fax: + 971 4 4351200
Email: lama.kabbani@dubai-properties.ae