Dubai, UAE, 24 March 2017:  Dubai Customs’ Director of Corporate Communication Department Khalil Saqer bin Gharib won the Sharjah Government Communication Award (GCA) in the award ceremony held on Wednesday 22nd March 2017 at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah under the patronage of HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.   

Khalil won the award under the category:  best graduation project/research on government communication in 2017.  

His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman, Sharjah Media Centre presented the award to Khalil Saqer bin Gharib. 

Khalil bin Saqer entered the competition with an academic specialised thesis on communication; the first of its kind at the UAE government level. The thesis paper covers internal communication as one of three pillars that make up the effective communication pyramid. He selected Dubai Customs as a case study being an effective good communication environment. 

Bin Gharib expressed his happiness for receiving this notable award and attributed this achievement to Dubai Customs’ employees who cooperated with him in his research. 

“I am proud to have received the Sharjah Government Communication Award (GCA) which urges us to work harder and puts more responsibilities on our shoulders to keep up the good work. This award is added to the many accolades and awards Dubai Customs has duly bagged in its journey of distinction and success”. 
The winning thesis is entitled “Toward a Comprehensive Model of Effective Internal Communication: A Dubai Government Case Study”, and had been discussed at Zayed University and approved in fulfilment for the degree of Master of Communications and Strategic Public Relationships. 

The research paper proposed an integrated model of internal corporate communication to help organisations build a framework that provides a clear, informative and engaging two-way communication for the effective coordination of all their internal and external stakeholders and simultaneously promote commitment and loyalty to the organisation by improving collaboration, productivity and performance, along with an awareness of its changing environment and understanding of its evolving aims. 

The paper attracted much academic attention thanks to its practical aspect being a case study of Dubai Customs; the leading UAE government department.