Top performers in electronic services adoption in the trade and logistics industry were honoured on 15th Jan 2012 by Dubai Trade, the leading trade facilitator under Dubai World, at its 4th Annual E-Services Excellence Award held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Danube Building Materials won the special award for cargo gate pass e-services.

Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said on the occasion: “Dubai Trade and its ESEA initiative are fine examples of how Dubai has been encouraging and promoting a knowledge based economy. The UAE has been a front-runner in establishing itself as a leader in e-government services. We commend
Dubai Trade for successfully facilitating e-commerce and support its untiring efforts in complementing Dubai’s growth as the region’s trading hub.”

Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman of the Danube Group, leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, has been recognized as one of the top 25 ‘Young Asian Achievers’ in the UAE in a gala ceremony that was held last December 12, 2011 at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. During the event, Sajan was presented with a plaque of recognition by Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). The Danube founder was cited for his dynamic leadership as chairman of the Middle East region’s premier building materials and home interiors products provider
and the significant contributions he has made towards the UAE’s continued growth and development.

The 25 UAE-based Asian expatriates are featured in a book entitled ‘Young Asian Achievers,’ released by Xponent Media. The achievers included in this pioneering list come from eight Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The young achievers were chosen for their contributions, innovative and out-of-the-box approaches in their respective fields.

31 October 2010

Chairman Rizwan Sajan accepts award in recognition of company’s ‘excellence model’

H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, has awarded the prestigious Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MRM) Business Award to Danube Building Materials, the leader in construction, building materials and shop fitting industries, at a ceremony organized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce (DCC) held today (October 31, 2010) at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai. The MRM Business award in the ‘Freezone for Re-Export category, which was received by Danube Chairman Rizwan Sajan and Managing Director Anis Sajan, complements the company’s ‘excellence model’ and its outstanding business performance; strategic programs, initiatives and achievements, which were the main criteria used in judging this year’s awards. Danube Building Materials is the only building materials trading company to be awarded in this year’s edition of the MRM awards.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minster of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, the MRM Business Award was established in 2005 to recognize, showcase, and celebrate the success of organizations that have contributed to UAE economic development. Participating companies and organizations stand to gain key benefits and advantages that include; an organizational learning experience via self analysis and comparing performance against better business practice modules; an independent assessment of strengths and weaknesses; recognition of excellence in the workforce; promotion of healthy competition that can lead to an increase in production and efficiencies and an opportunity to compare their own practices and strategic initiatives with the best companies in the sector.

“We are very humbled to receive this award, which affirms our strong commitment towards the promotion and adoption of best practices and high standards in the Middle East Region,” said Rizwan Sajan, Chairman, Danube. “We are inspired by the confidence vested in us by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and will aim to return this gesture by supporting his call to promote a culture of excellence in the UAE and the rest of the region. Danube remains steadfast in its efforts to secure further growth in terms of our manufacturing capabilities and expand our retail presence in the region amidst our plans to launch 10 new Buildmart branches this year.”

The MRM Business Award recognizes best performing business organizations by focusing on three main performance indicators: output, outcome, and impact. The criteria for assessing the applications for the Award focus specifically on the factors that lead to outstanding business performance. The award aims to share and promote best business practices by indentifying the elements of success of the winners. Danube joins a list of leading organizations who have won the MRM awards including leading multinational companies and enterprises within the private sector.

Anis Sajan, Managing Director, Danube, said, “Danube is totally committed to uphold the integrity of the MRM Business Awards by constantly ensuring that we meet the requirements set by this prestigious award. The whole Danube family thanks His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the recognition. This award is equally momentous given that we were also awarded at the ‘Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme’ (DQAP) Awards. Rest assured Danube is looking forward to undertaking further initiatives to enhance our processes and the value we provide to our customers, which would hopefully merit more recognition in the future.”

We are confident that our markets are strong enough to meet any challenges.

Danube – in the United Arab Emirates is an icon of national pride. It is a fore bearer in the mega infrastructural development and unprecedented economic progress of the seven self-ruling and unique emirates in the region.

Its contribution to the construction and real estate industry has been immense and its services to the nation unparalleled. Danube is one of the fastest growing trading companies in the UAE.

Established in the year 1993, Danube has grown from a humble beginning in a small office in Deira (for an annual rent of 20,000 dirham) to one of the largest chain of outlets in the UAE today, With branches in all seven emirates and their wings stretched up to Muscat, Bahrain, India and China and with a steady clientele in GCC countries, Asia and Africa. Danube is not just a building materials company; it’s a major share-holder in nation’s development efforts.

Mr. Rizwan Sajan Group Chairman Danube says his company’s growth over the years has been exceptional and it reflects on the company’s consistent business management, clear policy on the trade ethics and our total trust on the UAE markets these have placed our company in the fore-front, he points out.

When Newsweek broke the news that Danube has been chosen one of UAE’s Top 20 Performers for the Year 2008, and was due to receive the first ever Newsweek Award of Excellence , Mr. Sajan was initially unsure if this selection process was in fact the right measurement for a judgment of this nature. An articulate businessman, he wanted to make sure that he was receiving this recognition on merit of his performance not otherwise.