The Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance (ADAEP) is a government-wide programme that defines, measures and recognises excellence across Abu Dhabi Government, setting a clear benchmark for performance and public value.
Rooted in many years of learning and the latest research, the award is underpinned by a new Abu Dhabi Government Performance and Excellence Model.
Structured around a rigorous and multi-stage evidence-based assessment framework and supported by AI insights, the new model sets a clear and credible standard for government performance in Abu Dhabi, recognising entities and initiatives that enhance public services, strengthen governance and deliver measurable societal impact.
Signalling what excellence looks like in practice, the new model empowers government entities to continuously advance, not only within their own specific areas of responsibility but also in their contribution to a unified, future-ready government.
In doing so, ADAEP drives continuous improvement across government, strengthening how entities operate, collaborate and deliver results. This performance-led approach embeds a sustained culture of excellence that translates ambition into measurable outcomes and lasting public value - reflected in better services, stronger institutions and an improved quality of life for citizens and residents across the emirate.
A robust, multi-layered, evidence-based evaluation framework ensures that entities are assessed rigorously and consistently against clearly defined standards of performance and impact.
This is caried out by a team of independent assessors made up of 90 experts from 27 countries with a strong emphasis on societal impact and the delivery of measurable public value.
Quality teams then provide oversight, reviewing the findings to ensure the quality and integrity of the assessment before the results are referred to a technical jury for a detailed expert review to confirm that findings are fully substantiated. Following the technical jury’s validation, the outcomes are submitted to a grand jury for final deliberation and decision-making - ensuring senior-level expert oversight, balanced judgement, and the highest standards of credibility.
AI-enabled tools also support the process, strengthening consistency and generating data-driven insights that reinforce its overall robustness.
This systematic approach ensures that ADAEP recognition strengthens capability, elevates performance across government and delivers tangible public benefit to the people of Abu Dhabi.
A core component of the award evaluation framework assessment how government entities are embedding digital capabilities and AI to advance the delivery of an AI-native government that anticipates needs, enhances decision-making and provides tangible public benefit.
To reinforce this approach, AI has been embedded for the first time as a support layer within the ADAEP assessment process - enhancing consistency, deepening analysis and strengthening evidence-based validation. It complements specialised human expertise through the introduction of three tools: the AI Consultant, AI Juror and AI Grand Jury Assistant.
An AI Consultant supports assessors with initial submission review, enhancing consistent analyses and clarity in feedback reports while an AI Juror supports the technical jury by consolidating feedback, analysing scoring consistency and providing validated insights, enabling it to assess the reports and verify findings against other government data.
The AI Grand Jury Assistant then enables the grand jurors to interrogate the evidence provided with data-backed insights.
All evaluation and endorsement decisions remain led, governed and fully accountable to human oversight, guided by contextual understanding, professional expertise and informed judgement.
The Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance (ADAEP) Grand Jury is composed of senior government and private sector leaders and international experts, whose collective expertise in strategic leadership and government stewardship underpins the award’s credibility and authority in recognising government excellence.
Further details on the Grand Jury will follow.
The Abu Dhabi Performance and Excellence Model builds on Abu Dhabi’s strategic vision for a forward-looking, interconnected and people-centric government that continuously collaborates and improves, and creates public value and positively impacts Abu Dhabi’s people and communities.
For more information on the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance,
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