Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media Wins Four Stevie Awards 2026

The Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media secured a significant share of the Stevie Awards for the Middle East and North Africa 2026, marking a notable achievement for Ajman by winning four prestigious awards across the fields of innovation, community engagement, and inclusivity.

This outstanding achievement embodies the vision of Ajman 2030 — “Ajman for People” — which places individuals at the heart of all policies and initiatives, and affirms the Department’s commitment to developing a comprehensive tourism experience grounded in innovation and sustainability.

The Stevie Awards are among the world’s most prominent programmes recognising institutional innovation. This year’s edition attracted more than 1,400 nominations from organisations representing 18 countries, with submissions evaluated by over 150 international experts across eight specialised judging panels.

The four awards were distributed across two categories. The Department received a Silver Award in the category of “Innovative Achievement in Community Engagement and Community Impact” for its Community-Participatory Event Design initiative — an integrated digital platform that enables community members and visitors to participate in proposing and designing tourism events, while generating smart reports that empower decision-makers to launch events aligned with public interests and reinforce Ajman’s tourism identity.

The three Bronze Awards completed the picture of an integrated innovation ecosystem. The Department received the award for “Innovation in Government Services” for its initiative, Ajman: An Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Destination, which developed a digital platform enabling People of Determination and visitors with special needs to easily explore tourism destinations and services through interactive maps and tailored offerings.

It also received the award for “Excellence in Innovation in Artificial Intelligence — Government” for its project, Forecasting the Future of Tourism Using Artificial Intelligence — an advanced interactive platform that employs AI technologies to transform creative ideas into actionable tourism projects.

The Department also received the award for “Innovation in Building Communities via Social Media” for the Emirati Authenticity campaign, which successfully transformed Emirati cultural identity into engaging digital content reaching a wide global audience.

Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media, expressed his pride in the Department’s receipt of these prestigious Stevie Awards 2026.

He stated that this achievement reflects the vision of Ajman 2030 — “Ajman for People” — where individuals are placed at the heart of every initiative and development. He added that the Department will continue its efforts to strengthen the Emirate’s position as an innovative and sustainable tourism destination, delivering a leading experience for citizens, residents, and visitors.

His Excellency Mahmoud Khalil Al Hashimi, Director General of the Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media, expressed his pride in this international recognition, affirming that the four awards reflect a systematic approach built on purposeful innovation and effective community partnership.

He stated: “These awards confirm the success of our approach in developing a tourism sector grounded in inclusivity and the effective use of technology. They reflect the depth of efforts made by the Department’s team and strengthen our confidence in continuing to develop impactful initiatives that enhance the visitor experience and reinforce Ajman’s position as an innovative and distinguished tourism destination.”

These awards represent a continuation of the Department’s ongoing achievements in digital innovation. The Department has previously showcased a range of its smart initiatives at GITEX Global, including the AI-powered Plan Your Trip platform, which enables visitors to fully customise their tourism itineraries. It also launched the Tourism Innovator Award to encourage young people to develop creative solutions that contribute to shaping the future of the sector — all within the framework of its commitment to building an innovative and sustainable tourism sector that reinforces Ajman’s position as a leading destination on the regional and international tourism map.