His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, today launched the Emirates Center for Government Knowledge (ECGK) at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG). 

During the launch His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said: "The establishment of the centre complements the framework set by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, to provide all forms of support to people in the region. He pointed out that such a framework is also being followed by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He noted that the UAE, under the leadership of Sheikh Khalifa, has become a civilisational hub for the region due to its various qualitative achievements in many areas. Shaikh Hamdan said that this has allowed it to occupy a leading global position in different fields, including the public sector that has witnessed notable progress during the past few years.

Sheikh Hamdan also noted that the support extended by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to all government bodies was instrumental in advancing government work to the highest levels. The centre will provide administrative consultation for government institutions in the UAE and abroad, as well as implement a number of specialised training programmes in co-operation with different Emirati government institutions. The programmes offered will focus on various fields of management, such as in airports, ports, roads, transportation, customs, courts and finance. The centre will rely on the expertise of many specialised national, regional and international cadres in various fields of administration and organisational excellence".

The launch ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, MBRSG, His Excellency Dr Ali Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President, MBRSG and senior staff and faculty members of the School of Government. 
The Emirates Centre for Government Knowledge has been established to enhance government excellence and capabilities in the UAE and the wider region. The new center will document and analyze government excellence experiences in the UAE and around the world with the aim of sharing this knowledge among government organizations in order to produce academic research on best government practices.  The ECGK will focus on encouraging dialogue through sharing ideas and best practices related to training and education in government spheres. Through its personnel, partnerships and electronic portal it will offer consultation, training and advice to government organizations in the UAE and around the world. 

His Excellency Al Qatami expressed his appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan for his support in launching the center and said: "Dubai - and the wider UAE - has become a leader in the field of public administration and the development of the government sector under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makoutm, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government plays an important role in the academic and scientific contribution to this important field and towards ensuring its continued success in the years to come." 

Dr Ali Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President, MBRSG, said: "The launch of the new center is in line with our strategic plan to build an educational and academic institution that shapes national competencies and prepares the next generation of public sector leaders who will contribute to the advancement of the government sector locally, nationally and regionally. Since the inception of MBRSG we have remained relentlessly focused on the importance of knowledge and endeavored to create a knowledge reference that would benefit organizations and decision makers."
The ECGK will offer academic and applied training, advice and consultation to government organizations to enable them to provide exceptional and competitive services on par with global best-in-class standards. The center will offer programs that aim to build organizational capacities, knowledge management, organizational excellence and governance towards driving a dynamic management culture.  

Through partnerships with various government entities, the center will also provide customized programs designed for specific organizations to help them achieve their potential and develop integrated solutions for their specific requirements. These include sector-specific and institution-specific programs for transport, ports, airports, customs and finance.  The Emirates Centre for Government Knowledge will offer a knowledge ambassadors program. The knowledge ambassadors will be chosen from among MBRSG's alumni and help employees of organizations develop their skills and abilities through offering mentoring and guidance, as well as issue management support, when needed. The program aims to leverage local talent and facilitate the sharing of knowledge. The center also plans to collaborate with academic and government institutions in the UAE, the wider region and the world at large to create a government knowledge network that can help members improve and grow. 

The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government is committed to promoting good governance through enhancing the region's capacity for effective public policy. The school uses a four-pronged approach, which includes applied research in public policy and management, academic programs in public policy and administration, executive education programs, and knowledge forums for scholars and policy makers.