Dubai: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, attended the graduation of the second cohort of the Lead and Design Programme.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Lead and Design Programme is an initiative of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) that aims to empower national talent with future-focused design skills. It equips participants with the necessary tools of creative leadership rooted in design thinking methodologies, focusing on meeting community needs and aspirations to develop innovative solutions.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that Dubai views its youth as crucial in shaping the emirate’s future, stressing the importance of equipping them with design thinking skills and fostering creativity to develop innovative, human-centered services within their respective entities. He stated that developing national talent will continue to be a strategic priority for shaping the future of Dubai and the UAE.
He highlighted that design thinking is an innovative approach to addressing challenges and improving services. Participants in the Lead and Design Programme are expected to make notable contributions to their teams and entities, enhance their future readiness by identifying promising opportunities, and apply future-focused skills to projects and services that prioritize people.
The graduation event was attended by key figures such as Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation; Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; Helal Al Marri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; and Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the DFF.
The second cohort included 38 participants from the UAE’s public and private sectors. Over 14 weeks, they engaged in interactive workshops, field visits, and lectures on design thinking and leadership development. The programme introduced them to a range of design thinking tools and skills, with guidance from subject matter experts and specialists.
Participants underwent multiple training phases focusing on understanding societal challenges while prototyping innovative solutions. The programme concluded with participants presenting projects aimed at improving government services, quality of life, the environment, and education, as well as empowering People of Determination.