Dubai Economy hosted a three-day workshop as part of improving the quality of services available for people of determination in the emirate’s flagship retail sector and enhancing awareness among retailers on the Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES), particularly its emphasis on providing an inclusive shopping experience in the city.
Organised in line with the ‘My community… A City for Everyone’ initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, to turn Dubai into a disability-friendly city by 2020, the workshop was also part of the Dubai Economy strategy to reinforce Dubai as a destination for world-class shopping and competitive services.
Following the launch of the ‘My Community… A City for Everyone’ initiative, the Business Excellence Department in Dubai Economy had announced the ‘People of Determination’ criterion to the Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) Members. Launched in 2002, DSES rates outlets based on service excellence with the eventual aim of making shopping in the UAE a pleasant experience.
The workshop was designed to provide participants with a clear perspective on the importance of exceptional services for people of determination and the challenges retailers are likely to face in making their outlet disability-friendly. Participants also learned about the laws relating to serving people of determination, ways to overcome barriers to provide an inclusive shopping experience, and using the Makatoon language to communicate.
Shaikha Ahmad Al Bishri, Director of the Business Excellence Department in Dubai Economy, said adding ‘People of Determination’ as a DSES criterion and the follow-up programmes help accelerate the inclusion of people of determination in the society and support social and economic development in the country.
“The Dubai Service Excellence Scheme has been instrumental in establishing Dubai as a shopping hub and developing a globally competitive private sector in the emirate. With its focus on people of determination, DSES took a major step towards elevating the shopping experience in the UAE. We are pleased to constantly interact with retailers in across workshops and awareness programmes, to share ideas on developing a disability-friendly infrastructure and services,” said Al Bishri.
Al Bishri added that over 95% of DSES members have customised their infrastructure to be disability-friendly and nearly 62% have launched initiatives specially for people of determination.
The workshop attracted over 50 participants from different areas of retailing, including shopping centres, jewellery, fashion, opticals, restaurants & cafes, driving institutes, parking services, sharebrokers, and banks and money exchanges. Participants had to complete an online asssessment successfully at the end of the workshop, following which they received a certificate issued by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai.
For more details on registering for the DSES or Business Excellence Awards, please contact +9714-4455833 or write to bec@dubaided.gov.ae
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