Hamdan bin Mohammed: Empowering national talent with opportunities to be leaders and innovators is one of the leadership’s highest priorities
The ceremony included 26 graduates from 17 government entities
A total of 128 future scenarios across various sectors were developed by participants since the launch of the programme

 His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), today honoured 26 graduates of the first and second cohorts of the Dubai Future Experts Program. The graduates included employees from 17 government entities.
The programme, jointly launched by The Executive Council of Dubai and DFF, seeks to train local talent and equip them with the skills and expertise to design future-related initiatives in Dubai Government entities.
The graduation ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Deputy Chairman of Board of Trustees and Managing Director of DFF; His Excellency Abdullah Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary-General of The Executive Council of Dubai; and His Excellency Khalfan Jumaa Belhoul, CEO of DFF.
His Highness said: “Today, I attended the graduation ceremony of a talented group of Emiratis, who have been equipped by the Dubai Future Experts Program with the knowledge and skills needed to embrace strategic foresight and lead our organisations to a vibrant future. I was also briefed on the futuristic projects and scenarios they have developed with innovative tools and techniques they have been trained in during the programme.
“We are extremely proud of our country’s talented professionals and look forward to seeing the new graduates use the experiences and knowledge they have acquired during the programme to further raise excellence in the government sector. I am confident that they will make valuable contributions to our efforts to design the best possible future for our nation in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,” His Highness added.
“Empowering national talent with opportunities to be leaders and innovators is one of the leadership’s highest priorities. We have faith in the participants’ capabilities and are sure that their competencies will help Dubai achieve greater heights," HH Sheikh Hamdan continued.
HH Sheikh Hamdan praised the efforts of the graduates, instructors, experts and academia involved in the programme. “The programme has immersed the participants in an experiential understanding of opportunities and challenges of the future, inspiring them to create ideas and projects that will enhance Dubai’s position as a leading city of the future.”
Futuristic Projects
During the ceremony, the graduates briefed Sheikh Hamdan on a set of projects, future scenarios and recommendations that they have designed and developed.
HH Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on research projects and reports prepared by the graduates covering various topics including productive city, resilience in emergencies and crises, digital transformation, empowering governments, community cohesion and the future of legislation, among others. The graduates had also prepared a set of future scenarios to enhance preparedness for changes over the next 50 years.
The Dubai Future Experts Program comprises two modules, each running for six months. Participants can progress from ‘Future Analyst’ to ‘Future Practitioner’. The first-of-its-kind, the programme is managed by the Dubai Future Academy, an initiative of DFF. It aims to develop a forward-looking mindset within the government and establish a pool of certified Emirati futurists who can help shape the future of Dubai’s key strategic sectors. The modules and content of the programme have been developed by leading national and global future experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, and CEOs.
The first level includes five modules within an intensive programme that includes lectures, workshops and practical training on exponential foresight, scenario planning, superforecasting, future integration and delivery, and visually presenting the future. Advanced level participants are working on developing future research projects that contribute to the role of their government entities in executing future-related strategies and projects.
The programme is focused on developing skills such as horizon scanning, scenario planning, superforecasting, strategic thinking, and research skills. It also builds capabilities in decision-making, policy development, legislation, regulation, and in identifying opportunities to create new economic sectors.
Third Cohort
The third cohort of the programme is scheduled to start at the end of September 2022. More than 800 applications were submitted by senior and middle management employees from 37 Dubai government entities covering more than 20 diverse vital sectors, including logistics, economy, technology, healthcare, education, tourism, aviation, among others.
Since its launch, the Dubai Future Experts Program has graduated 37 employees from 28 government entities. These graduates completed 182 studying hours under the supervision of 24 international experts. They managed to prepare 24 research reports using strategic foresight tools and develop 128 future scenarios in various sectors addressing the most important challenges and expected transformations.