13 Feb 2025 | Hilton Abu Dhabi, Yas Island

THE PIONEERS

Celebrating the Pioneers of Guest Experiences (GX) on Yas Island! Your outstanding efforts in delivering exceptional guest experiences on Yas Island have set a new benchmark for excellence.

OVERVIEW

Ruwad, meaning "Pioneers" in Arabic, reflects our commitment to recognizing Excellence, Engagement, & Exceptional Guest Experience. We honor those who set new standards in hospitality and make a remarkable impact on our guests.

Yas Island Abu Dhabi

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The awards event celebrates the people behind Yas Island’s success, from guest-facing roles to behind-the-scenes teams and key partnerships, all contributing to memorable experiences.

This one-day celebration honors the individuals and teams who shape memorable guest experiences across all levels, from operations to leadership and every role in between.

Our goal is to inspire excellence, encourage continuous improvement, and reinforce a guest-centered culture of exceptional hospitality and teamwork across Yas Island.

*The top three finalists in each category will receive a special invitation to attend the ceremony.

Judging Panel

Comprised of respected industry leaders and experts, each bringing a deep understanding of hospitality and guest service. With their wealth of experience, they are dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the highest standards of excellence, ensuring a thoughtful and fair evaluation of every nominee.

Cary Lawton

Customer Experience Director

Aramex

Taghrid AlSaeed

Executive Director Marketing, Communications and Events

Miral

Gihan ElMatbouly

Acting Visitor Experience Department Director

Department of Culture and Tourism

Marcus Osborne

Etihad Arena General

Manager

Ethara

Baraa Khamis

Chief Digital and Technology Officer

Ethara

Turky AlHammadi

Director of Product & Hospitality, Guest Experience

Etihad Airways

Nader Halim

Cluster General Manager

Hilton Abu Dhabi

Dipti Bhatia

Manager - Strategic Partnerships - Retail Marketing

Provis

Manuela Frei

Office Manager Tourism

Department of Culture and Tourism

Ian Golding

Global Customer Experience Specialist

Customer Experience Consultancy

Fatema Alblooshi

Visitor Operations Section Head

Louvre Abu Dhabi

Imane Akechchar

Cluster Front Office Manager

Yas Plaza Hotels

CASH AWARD

Don’t miss out! Submit your entry now for a chance to win

in individual categories or as part of a team, and become

the Pioneers of Guest Experience on Yas Island!

LEARN MORE

Eligibility

To be considered for selection or participation, you must meet the criteria outlined below.
Please review the requirements carefully to determine if you qualify:

Registered
Yas Captain

Simply register to the Yas Captain Program if you haven't already. Registering is a prerequisite for participation. However, you can complete your learning journey anytime.

Employees

Participants must be currently employed at a business on Yas Island, actively contributing to outstanding guest experiences and community engagement (Former employees are not eligible to participate).

HOW-TO-ENTER

Awards Categories

This year, we have 14 awards across 4 categories (Frontline, Team, Leadership and Spotlight) to recognize excellence in guest experience at Yas Island. We celebrate both individual achievements and team efforts that enhance visitor satisfaction.

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Each award highlights outstanding contributions that elevate the guest experience.

REACH OUT TO US

ruwad@miral.ae

Follow us!

جزيرة ياس Yas Island, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates, P.O. Box: 128717

FREQUENTLY-ASKED-QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Question: Can I apply if I am on probation? Answer: Yes, employees on probation are eligible to apply. However, please note that employees who have resigned and are currently serving their notice period are not eligible to participate.

Question: Can I apply for multiple categories? Answer: Yes, you can apply for multiple categories, as long as you are applying to one award per category (e.g. one award from the frontline category and another award from the spotlight category).

Question: Is a written submission mandatory for the Leadership and Team categories? Answer: Yes, a written submission is a key component of your submission for both the Leadership and Team award categories, alongside the video or presentation, which serves as supporting evidence to strengthen your application.

Question: Is there a deadline for submitting my application or nomination? Answer: Yes, there is a deadline for submitting applications and nominations. Please ensure that your submission is made before the specified closing date. Late submissions will not be considered. Check the official website for the exact deadline.

Question: Can I participate if I am not a Yas Captain? Answer: Registering in Yas Captain program is a must if you want to apply for Individual and Leadership Categories, you can register on the platform through yasacademy.ae

Question: What are the judging criteria for the Ruwad Yas Island Awards? Answer: The judging criteria for the Ruwad Yas Island Awards can be found on the official criteria document on the Judges section.

Question: Can I participate if I don’t have a work email? Answer: For the Leadership and Team categories, a work email is required. For the Frontline and Spotlight Categories, you can use a personal email as long as you upload a copy of your work ID on the submission form to verify your eligibility.

Question: How will the winners be announced? Answer: The winners will be announced during the official Ruwad Yas Island Awards ceremony at Hilton Yas Bay - 14 February 2025.

Question: Can I make changes to my submission after it has been submitted? Answer: Once your submission is finalized and submitted, no changes can be made. Be sure to review your application carefully before submitting it.

Question: Is there a fee to participate in the awards? Answer: There is no fee to participate in the Ruwad Yas Island Awards. All applications are free.

Question: Are there any rewards or prizes for the winners? Answer: Yes, winners of the Ruwad Yas Island Awards will receive a cash reward of 5,000 AED.

Question: Will my submission be kept confidential? Answer: We believe in transparency throughout the process. While all applications and nominations will be reviewed by the designated judging panel, we will share the winning submissions publicly on the "Wall of Fame" after the awards are concluded. This allows us to celebrate the achievements of our winners and provide insight into the selection process.

Question: Can I withdraw my application after submitting it? Answer: Once your application is submitted, it cannot be withdrawn. Be sure to review all details before finalizing your submission.

What if I cannot attend the awards ceremony? Answer: If you are unable to attend the awards ceremony, you will still be recognized, and your award will be delivered to you if you are selected as a winner.

Question: How do I know if my application was successfully submitted? Answer: An automated confirmation email will be sent to the email address used for registration once your application has been successfully submitted.

Question: Can I nominate an active employee if I am a former employee? Answer: One of the prerequisites of applying is to be an active employee even if you want to nominate someone.

Question: Can I nominate a team for the Teams awards categories? Answer: The Teams categories are only Self-nominations; you can motivate the team to apply for participation!

Question: Can I participate if I am a former employee? Answer: Unfortunately, participation is only open to current employees working at Yas Island assets.

Question: If I no longer work at Yas Island but want to nominate an active colleague, can I still apply? Answer: Yes, absolutely! Even if you're no longer employed at Yas Island, you're welcome to nominate an active colleague. Simply provide the required details about your colleague in your nomination to confirm their eligibility.

Question: Can I submit multiple nominations for the same category? Answer: No, you can only submit one nomination per category. Multiple nominations for the same category from the same individual will not be considered.

13 Feb 2025 | Hilton Abu Dhabi, Yas Island

THE PIONEERS

Yas Island Abu Dhabi

The awards event celebrates the people behind Yas Island’s success, from guest-facing roles to behind-the-scenes teams and key partnerships, all contributing to memorable experiences.

This one-day celebration honors the individuals and teams who shape memorable guest experiences across all levels, from operations to leadership and every role in between.

Our goal is to inspire excellence, encourage continuous improvement, and reinforce a guest-centered culture of exceptional hospitality and teamwork across Yas Island.

*The top three finalists in each category will receive a special invitation to attend the ceremony.

Judging Panel

Eligibility

To be considered for selection or participation, you must meet the criteria outlined below. Please review the requirements carefully to determine if you qualify:

Registered Yas Captain

Simply register to the Yas Captain Program if you haven't already. Registering is a prerequisite for participation. However, you can complete your learning journey anytime.

Employees

Participants must be currently employed at a business on Yas Island, actively contributing to outstanding guest experiences and community engagement (Former employees are not eligible to participate).

Awards Categories

This year, we have 14 awards across 4 categories (Frontline, Team, Leadership and Spotlight) to recognize excellence in guest experience at Yas Island. We celebrate both individual achievements and team efforts that enhance visitor satisfaction.

Each award highlights outstanding contributions that elevate the guest experience.

REACH OUT TO US

ruwad@miral.ae

Follow us!

جزيرة ياس Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, P.O. Box: 128717

FREQUENTLY-ASKED-QUESTIONS (FAQs)

*The top three finalists in each category will receive a special invitation to attend the ceremony.

To be considered for selection or participation, you must meet the criteria outlined below.
Please review the requirements carefully to determine if you qualify:

Registered
Yas Captain

جزيرة ياس Yas Island, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates, P.O. Box: 128717