W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island | 12 February 2026

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.

Ruwad Awards

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 2026

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.

Baraa Khamis

Chief Digital and Technology Officer

Ethara

Dr. Edmund Goh

Assistant Dean, Research and Innovation

Les Roches

Carsten Nørland

Chief Commercial Officer

Abu Dhabi Airports

Fabien Chesnais

General Manager

Yas Plaza Hotels

Catalina Susan

General Manager

Marriott Al Forsan

Farah Al Bakoush

Director of Culture Festivals and Platforms

Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT)

Fatema Alblooshi

Visitor Operations Section Head

Louvre Abu Dhabi

Jue Lu

Visitor Experience Strategy Director

Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT)

Feryal Haddon

Cluster Hotel Manager

WB & Double Tree by Hilton

Marcus Osborne

Etihad Arena General Manager

Etihad Arena

Ian Golding

Global Customer Experience Specialist

Customer Experience Consultancy

Spencer Wadama

General Manager

W Hotel Yas Island

Turky Al Hammadi

Director of Product and Hospitality

Etihad Airways

Taghrid Alsaeed

Executive Director Marketing, Communications and Events

Miral

Steve Bunce

Executive Director - Retail Management

Aldar

CASH AWARD

Don’t miss out! Submit your applications 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!

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 19 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.

LEARN MORE

Submission Guidelines

Please review the full guidelines thoroughly to ensure your submission meets all the necessary requirements.

Hall of Fame

Meet the pioneers behind Yas Island’s outstanding guest experiences. Here’s a look at our past winners and their remarkable achievements.

DOWNLOAD

REACH OUT TO US

ruwad@miral.ae

جزيرة ياس Yas Island, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates

Follow us!

+971 54 471 1937

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: No, registering in Yas Captain program is a prerequisite for applying, you can register on the platform through Yasacademy.ae if you are not part of the program.

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.

Question: Can I make changes to my submission after it has been submitted? Answer: Yes, you can edit your application after submitting it before the submissions’ deadline.

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, first-place winners of the Ruwad Yas Island Awards will receive a cash prize of AED 5,000 across all categories. In the Frontline and Spotlight categories, second-place winners will receive AED 2,000, and third-place winners will receive AED 1,000.

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 "Pioneers" section 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. You can still edit your application after submitting it before the submissions’ deadline.

Question: 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: A notification popup will appear once you submit your application successfully, and an automated confirmation email will be sent to the email address used for registration.

Question: What happens if a category has fewer than three finalists or applicants? Answer: If a category has fewer than three finalists or applicants, recognition will be limited to a first-place winner only.

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 nominate a team for the Teams awards categories? Answer: No, you can’t nominate another team in Team Categories, but you are welcome to motivate the team to apply for themselves!

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 our team would like to nominate one colleague, should we submit individually or as a team? Answer: Either option is acceptable. Team members may submit nominations individually or jointly for the same colleague. If multiple nominations are received, the highest-scoring application in the first round will move forward to the next round, where voting will determine the finalist.

Question: Can I submit multiple nominations for the same category? Answer: If you’re applying for yourself, you may submit only one application per category. However, if you’re nominating others, you’re welcome to nominate multiple colleagues in the same category.

W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island | 12 February 2026

Ruwad Awards

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 2026

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 19 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. ​

Submission Guidelines

Please review the full guidelines thoroughly to ensure your submission meets all the necessary requirements.

REACH OUT TO US

ruwad@miral.ae

جزيرة ياس Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Follow us!

+971 54 471 1937

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

This year, we have 19 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.

جزيرة ياس Yas Island, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates