In a new milestone added to the record of national achievements, the Department of Human Resources of RAK Government has won the prestigious SHRM STAR Gold Award under the Excellence in Equity, Inclusion and Diversity category, as part of the Sustainable and Transformational Achievement Recognition (STAR) Awards presented by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The award was announced during the SHRM MENA Annual Conference held at Madinat Jumeirah – Dubai. This award is among the highest honours in the field of human resources, recognizing achievements that go beyond traditional organizational practices, and reflecting ambitious strategies that emphasize innovation and sustainable organizational performance. Excellence in Building an Inclusive Environment and Developing National Talent The Department of Human Resources received this award in recognition of its pioneering efforts in learning and development. More than just an organizational initiative, this work represents a true commitment to nation building through the development of young national talent, fostering equity, empowering women, and promoting workforce diversity. The Department has designed and implemented multi-dimensional development programs that focus on empowering talent and creating an inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and engaged. This has directly contributed to enhancing organizational performance and driving sustainable human capital practices across RAK Government entities. On this occasion, H.E. Shaikha Al Hebsi, Deputy Director General of the Department of Human Resources, said: “Winning the SHRM STAR Gold Award in the Excellence in Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity category is a culmination of our ongoing journey of commitment to a clear vision of empowering people. We believe that an inclusive and equitable workplace is the foundation of innovation and organizational excellence. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our team and our strategic partnerships that have supported our mission to empower national talent and build a resilient government system grounded in diversity and the empowerment of women and youth.” She added: “We dedicate this achievement to our wise leadership, the primary source of inspiration and support for all progress. We pledge to continue advancing human capital development and achieving higher levels of readiness and sustainability in government human resources.” Leadership Support and Strategic Vision On this occasion, the Department extends its heartfelt congratulations to the leadership of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and all its employees, affirming that this achievement would not have been possible without their continuous support and strategic vision that places investment in people at the top of its priorities. The Department further reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to preparing a new generation of leaders and to building an inclusive and resilient workplace capable of meeting future challenges, through innovative initiatives and strategic partnerships that strengthen Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a leading and progressive government hub.

The Department of Human Resources in Ras Al Khaimah has signed a cooperation agreement with RAK Hospital to provide discounts on a range of medical services for RAK Government employees and their families, in support of enhancing quality of life and workplace well-being.

The Department of Human Resources of Ras Al Khaimah, represented by the Talent Acquisition and Emiratization Department, organized a workshop to introduce the Esta’ed Program, launched to attract jobseekers and equip them with the skills needed to succeed in the workplace. Held at the Youth Center in Al Dhait, the workshop saw strong participation from young people. The Department aims to train and qualify 100 jobseekers as part of its efforts to expand employment opportunities and empower national talent. The workshop outlined the program’s objectives and training components, which focus on providing participants with essential knowledge and skills for entering the job market. The program includes a range of courses covering technical skills, reporting and analytics, job market orientation, CV writing and interview preparation, as well as English language, customer service, secretarial work, and call center training. The program is scheduled to launch on 8 September this year.

The Department of Human Resources of Ras Al Khaimah has won the Global Business Outlook Award for Most Innovative Government Planning 2025, in recognition of its significant efforts in preparing, developing, and implementing innovative policies that enhance the efficiency of government employees. H.E. Shaikha Al Hebsi, Deputy Director General, stated that this achievement serves as a strong incentive to continue innovating HR policies, emphasizing that the ongoing development of government policies remains one of the Department’s top priorities. The award is presented annually to individuals, companies, and organizations that introduce exceptional innovations in business and government policies. It recognizes practices that drive positive change and development across various sectors worldwide. Esta’ed Program for Qualifying Jobseekers in Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah, 26 May 2025 — The Department of Human Resources (DHR) unveiled its Strategic Plan for 2025–2027, cementing its commitment towards upholding and following the strategic vision of Ras Al Khaimah. The plan for the next three years focuses on establishing a professional framework for managing the human capital of a leading government. Its mission centers on empowering and managing government human resources to build a more agile, innovative, and efficient HR system that enhances organizational performance. The strategic plan aims to develop proactive and innovative policies and systems that ensure effective compliance and meet future requirements, as well as enhancing the capabilities of government entities in human capital management through comprehensive and effective strategies. The new objectives also include advancing digital enablers to deliver exceptional and proactive government services that focus on the use of artificial intelligence in addition to expanding Emiratization partnerships and creating new opportunities for sustainable, high-quality employment across various sectors. In its strategic plan, the DHR emphasizes its commitment to support government entities in talent acquisition, retention, and development by implementing effective human capital management programs. This includes assisting entities in formulating advanced plans to improve recruitment quality, develop competencies, maximize capabilities, and increase productivity. Additionally, the department is committed to nurturing exceptional and promising talents to create an attractive and innovation-driven work environment that enhances employee experience. The DHR is also working towards establishing a system based on analytics, and results-driven management to ensure performance effectiveness and data-driven decision-making. H.E. Sheikha Al Hebsi, Deputy General Manager of the Department of Human Resources said: “The 2025–2027 strategic plan has been developed based on RAK’s directions and comprehensive strategy, reflecting the DHR’s continuous efforts to follow the vision of our wise leadership towards a more efficient and proactive government capable of facing future challenges and achieving sustainable development. These objectives have been formulated in response to the needs of various government entities, following extensive studies and consultations to ensure alignment with their priorities and aspirations, thereby contributing to real added value in government performance and human resources. We believe that investing in human capital is fundamental to achieving sustainable development. Through this strategy, we aim to strengthen partnerships, accelerate digital transformation, and enhance the quality of government services in line with best practices.” The strategy was presented during the STAR Rating System ceremony organized by the DHR and attended by directors and employees of government entities. A comprehensive explanation of the plan’s objectives and focus areas was provided, in line with the DHR’s commitment towards transparency and constructive communication with its partners of success in RAK Government.

The Department of Human Resources of RAK Government organized a special ceremony to announce the results of HR Units classification under the Evaluation and Classification System (STARS). This system was launched by the DHR to assess the capabilities of HR units within the government through criteria based on best practices. The goal is to support the realization of RAK Vision by building the capacities of government entities in managing human capital, implementing policies, and delivering exceptional services to enhance employee satisfaction, improve their career journey, and increase the satisfaction of government entities with their HR units as business partners and success enablers. The system is based on several criteria derived from the letters of the Arabic word that means “STARS” with each letter representing a main criterion under which sub-criteria fall (System, Quality, Communication, Alignment). Based on these, HR units are evaluated and classified from one to five stars according to their capabilities development and maturity. The ceremony was attended by several general managers and heads of HR. The program included a presentation of the DHR’s 2025–2027 strategy aimed at ensuring the strategic alignment across the government. Additionally, the “HR Units Evaluation and Classification System Journey” was showcased, highlighting the various stages from the initial brainstorming sessions to establish preliminary evaluation criteria to the announcement of the final results. The ceremony was concluded by announcing the three entities that received the highest ratings in the first cycle of the system: • Department of Economic Development • RAK Public Prosecution • RAK Customs Authority The DHR leadership emphasized that this system is part of its efforts to promote a culture of organizational excellence and enhance the efficiency of human resources in RAK government. This is achieved by building HR units capable of delivering world-class services and work practices in human capital management, fostering competition among HR units to improve compliance, and ensuring the provision of pioneering and innovative services to employees.