The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), a leading academic institution for governance and public policy in the Arab world, celebrated the first cohort's graduation from its ‘Empowering Future Leaders’ programme. Held at Etihad Museum this ceremony marked the culmination of a strategic partnership with the Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA). The programme was specifically designed to prepare a new generation of national leaders, equipping them to foresee the future and drive institutional transformation within the government sector.

The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the CDA, and His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG. The event was also graced by the presence of a selection of government leaders, experts, and academics specialising in leadership, public administration, and institutional development.

The programme reflects MBRSG’s commitment to its pioneering academic role in preparing and honing the skills of national competencies, and in consolidating the UAE's model of knowledge and innovation-based administration. This aligns with the nation’s progress towards building a more proactive, resilient, and sustainable ecosystem across various sectors.

Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the CDA, said:
“The ‘Empowering Future Leaders’ programme reflects the UAE’s vision that investing in people is the cornerstone of sustainable development and the essence of building a cohesive and future-ready society. True leadership does not begin with positions or titles, but with values, purpose, and the will to create a positive impact within one’s community and institution.
At the Community Development Authority, we believe that leadership is an act of service, guided by empathy and a sense of collective responsibility. Empowering young national talents is essential to shaping a future rooted in compassion, innovation, and collaboration". 
Her Excellency added: "Our graduates have acquired advanced capabilities in institutional understanding, future foresight, decision-making, institutional innovation, and digital leadership, enabling them to lead change and enhance the quality of social services in Dubai.Our partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government reflects a shared national commitment to nurturing leaders capable of transforming challenges into opportunities, driving social impact, and advancing the UAE’s legacy of excellence in the Year of Community 2025 and beyond.”

His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, said: “This cohort's graduation from the ‘Empowering Future Leaders’ programme marks a significant milestone for MBRSG. It advances the school's mission to cultivate leaders prepared to confidently drive institutional transformation and shape the future. The programme embodies an integrated educational model that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application, enhancing participants' skills in strategic leadership, decision-making, and future foresight.”

His Excellency added: “Our partnership with the CDA reflects a shared commitment to empowering national talent, enabling them to make a positive and sustainable impact in their work environments. We achieve this by focusing on applied learning and cultivating analytical and creative capabilities, which empowers participants to transform challenges into tangible development opportunities that enhance government performance.”

The six-month programme comprised 110 training hours and included diverse tracks combining academic and field-based learning. These included interactive workshops, group projects, field visits, and ‘Meet the Leader’ sessions that provided participants with the opportunity to interact with national leadership figures and learn from real-world experiences in government work. Furthermore, the programme leveraged MBRSG’s Smart Executive Education Platform to provide a flexible e-learning environment, enabling self-paced learning in areas such as digital leadership, future foresight, and organisational agility.

The ‘Empowering Future Leaders’ programme was distinguished by its practical design, which integrated experiential learning with real-world practice through a 20-hour capstone project. Working in groups, participants designed solutions for actual government challenges, which were presented to a specialised evaluation committee. The learning experience was further enriched with readings, case studies, films, and reports from global knowledge sources, all contributing to enhanced critical thinking and a culture of evidence-based innovation.

The programme culminated in the graduation of a cohort of leaders equipped with an advanced set of leadership, analytical, and strategic skills. Equipped with these competencies, they are qualified to lead high-efficiency teams, confidently handle variables, and translate public policies into tangible results, supporting the government's performance ecosystem and enhancing its adaptability and innovation. Furthermore, the experience deepened their understanding of digital transformation tools, fostered a culture of institutional innovation, and refined their proactive decision-making skills.

The ‘Empowering Future Leaders’ programme reinforces MBRSG’s standing as a leading national academic institution, dedicated to developing executive education that keeps pace with global transformations. It empowers government personnel to effectively achieve the national vision and bolsters the UAE’s pioneering role in building resilient, innovative government systems capable of both anticipating and shaping the future.