Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of Sharjah Media Council, honoured the 11th Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA 2024) winners on Thursday.

The event, organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), took place at Expo Centre Sharjah, coinciding with the conclusion of the 13th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2024), themed ‘Agile Governments… Innovative Communication’.

During his speech, HE Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB, remarked: “Over the past eleven years, SGCA has not only recognised outstanding efforts but has also been a catalyst for positive change. It supports those committed to advancing government communication and aligns with Sharjah’s vision to create a new paradigm in government communication, contributing to community development.”

He added: “The award, designed to honour and acknowledge leading innovations in government communication, has evolved beyond a celebration of excellence. It has become a symbol of transformation and leadership. Today, its impact sets new benchmarks for the future of communication, locally and globally. Each year, it reveals success stories to inspire the next generation of government communication leaders to become agents of change, building a future defined by greater transparency and connectivity. It has been instrumental in strengthening the dialogue between governments and communities, driven by innovation and creativity.”

“Today, SGCA stands as a beacon of development and progress, encouraging institutions and leaders to explore new horizons and achieve greater impact and effectiveness in government communication. We are not just keeping pace with the future; we are actively shaping it, crafting a government communication framework built on trust and transparency,” Allay concluded.

On behalf of the SGCA jury committee, media personality Mona El Shazly said: “SGCA has consistently played a key role in improving the performance of government institutions and raising public awareness about the importance of transparent and innovative communication. The award promotes best practices, encourages exchanging ideas and experiences, and elevates government messaging to be more effective and responsive to society’s needs.”

SGCA has consistently played a key role in improving performance and raising public awareness of the importance of transparent and innovative government communication. The award promotes best practices, encourages exchanging ideas and experiences, and elevates government messaging to be more effective and responsive to society’s needs.

She continued: “In its eleventh edition, the award has continued to evolve in response to the rapid global changes in communication. This year, we expanded the award categories to include entries from around the world, transcending borders to ensure diversity among participants and enriching government communication with fresh perspectives and ideas.”

El Shazly highlighted the impact of these developments in this exceptional edition, which saw a 230% increase in submissions compared to the previous year, underscoring the award’s broad influence and global reach. She emphasised that SGCA recognises communication as a universal language without borders, where the success stories of individuals and companies deserve recognition and celebration through this prestigious global platform.

11th SGCA winners

The winner of the Best Integrated Communication System is KSA’s Ministry of Tourism. The Best Campaign Targeting Cultural Identity and Arabic Language award went to the Arab Youth Centre in UAE. Best Campaign Positively Impacting Youth Awareness and Practices was awarded to the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi. Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) won the Best Communication Program Supporting Emerging Projects and Youth.

The Best Communication Strategy Dealing with Crises award’s public sector category winner is UAE’s Al Ain Municipality, while KSA’s Matarat Holding received the private sector category award. The Best Communication and Media Content award’s private sector accolade went to Jordan’s Al Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans, while its public sector recognition was given to the Information and Decision Support Center – Egypt.

The winner of the Best Communication and Humanitarian Practices Supporting Social Responsibility award in the Public Sector is Sharjah Broadcasting Authority – UAE and Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Subaie and Sons Charitable Foundation (Gross) – KSA from the private sector.

The Best Communication Project Targeting Children and Adolescents award for the public sector was scooped by the Child Safety Department – UAE, while the private sector accolade was won by Arab Nation – UAE. Best Communication with Artificial Intelligence Technology in Service of the Community awarded to JAIS Initiative. The winner of the Best Investment in Soft Power to Support Communication Programs award is COP28 Presidency.

Individual category awards

Best Youth Initiative in Government Communication was won by Citizen’s Office Initiative – Morocco. The Best Official Spokesperson category winner is Hussein Mohammed Al-Qahtani – KSA; while the Best Research in Communication Sciences award was won by Mahmoud Shafei Abdel-Latif – Egypt. Lastly, in the Best Purposeful Digital Content Creator category, the winner under 18 is UAE’s Aisha Humaid Al Khayyal, while the 18+ category winner is Eisa Alhabib from Kuwait.

Additionally, the winner of the Universities Challenge, organised in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), is Oman’s Sultan Qaboos University. The winner of the Artificial Intelligence Skills Camp (AISC) Challenge is Barajeel Sustainability Project.

For this year’s Partner Awards, the winner of the Best Innovation in Government Communication award, in collaboration with Apolitical is Nigeria’s Kaduna Citifeed. The Best Communication Practices Dealing With Development Advances award, held in partnership with CSO Network, was awarded to the Al Futtaim Group. The Best Innovative and Resilient Communication Initiatives award, in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), was won by The World’s First Digital Nation – Tuvalu.

For the Jury Awards, the Best Distinguished Government Official was awarded to Ines Mpambara, Minister in Charge of Cabinet Affairs/ Primature, Rwanda; while the Best Communication with Impact on Remote Communities category was won by Egypt’s Dr. Mohamed Ghoneim.

His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi also honoured members of the SGCA Jury Committee, which included its Chairman, HE Mohammed Jalal Al Raisi; Ali Jaber, Group TV Director of MBC and Dean of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication at the American University in Dubai; Sami Al Reyami, former Editor-in-Chief of Emarat Al Youm; Shihab Alhammadi, Vice Chancellor for Financial and Administrative Affairs at the University of Sharjah; Dr. Ali Qasim Jawad Al Lawati, President of The Royal Academy of Management in Oman; Dr. Yasar Jarrar, Senior Strategy Advisor in emerging markets; and the prominent Egyptian media personality Mona El-Shazly, alongside Mohammed Majed Al Suwaidi and Dr. Ahmed Abdel Rahman Al Arfaj.

The SGCA ceremony was attended by xxx, officials, media representatives, and content creators from the UAE and beyond.