Sheikh Hamdan Honours Graduates of Lead & Design Programme
Sheikh Hamdan Honours Graduates of Lead & Design Programme, Empowering UAEās Future Innovators
Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), attended the graduation ceremony of the second cohort of the Lead & Design Programme on Tuesday.
The initiative, launched by DFF, aims to empower Emirati professionals with future-oriented design and leadership skills, equipping them with the ability to develop innovative, human-centred solutions for community needs.
Fostering Future-Ready Leaders
Sheikh Hamdan reaffirmed Dubaiās commitment to nurturing young national talent, stating that youth are central to shaping the emirateās future. He highlighted that developing Emirati capabilities in design thinking and creative problem-solving is vital to building a sustainable, innovation-driven Dubai.
āDeveloping national talent will continue to be one of our top strategic priorities in shaping the future of Dubai and the UAE,ā Sheikh Hamdan said.
āWe are determined to ensure Dubai remains one of the worldās most future-ready cities, driven by its creative talent, design-thinking mindset, and visionary leadership.ā
He added that design thinking is a powerful tool for tackling challenges and improving services across both government and private sectors.
āWe expect participants in the Lead & Design Programme to make valuable contributions to their entities by applying future-focused skills, identifying new opportunities, and developing solutions that place people first,ā he noted.
Strategic Leadership and Vision
The event was attended by several senior UAE officials, including:
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Vice Chairman of DFFās Board of Trustees
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Deputy Managing Director of DFF
Helal Al Marri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and DFF Board Member
Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of DFF
Their presence underscored the UAEās national priority to build a design-led culture of innovation that drives government excellence and global competitiveness.
Empowering 38 Innovators Through Design
The second cohort of the Lead & Design Programme included 38 participants from both public and private sectors. Over a 14-week intensive curriculum, participants engaged in:
Interactive workshops and practical sessions on design thinking
Field visits within the UAE and abroad
Leadership development modules led by experts and practitioners in innovation
The curriculum guided participants through real-world challenges, introducing them to tools that enhance creativity, analytical thinking, and people-focused design strategies.
Participants were also trained to envision future-ready solutions that improve public services, enhance community wellbeing, protect the environment, and promote inclusion ā especially for People of Determination.
Innovative Projects for the Future
The programme concluded with a presentation of final projects, where participants proposed innovative solutions across several key sectors:
Government service enhancement
Environmental sustainability
Education advancement
Quality of life improvement
Empowerment of People of Determination
These projects demonstrated how design-led innovation can directly contribute to Dubaiās vision of becoming a global hub for creativity and human-centric progress.
Building a Culture of Design Thinking
The Lead & Design Programme reflects Dubaiās broader ambition ā to integrate design thinking into its institutional DNA, ensuring that policymaking, public services, and corporate strategies are rooted in empathy, foresight, and innovation.
By empowering young Emiratis with these skills, the Dubai Future Foundation continues to build a generation capable of leading the UAEās transformation into a globally recognised innovation economy.
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