Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum will begin on September 23 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together 1,000 leading figures from Dubai’s government and private sectors.
The annual forum is one of the emirate’s key platforms dedicated to leadership and management, bringing together decision-makers, experts, and specialists to exchange ideas and examine the future of institutional leadership.
The forum reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to build a world-class leadership ecosystem capable of anticipating the future and creating new opportunities, while promoting an administrative model based on innovation, flexibility, and speed of execution.
It also serves as an important platform for embedding His Highness’s leadership and management philosophy into institutional practice across Dubai, helping improve performance, enhance efficiency, and support better services and quality of life.
A Leadership Vision That Places People at the Heart of Development
Organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, the forum aims to promote leading practices in management and leadership while bringing together government and private-sector leaders, global experts, academics, and decision-makers.
Participants will exchange perspectives on Dubai’s achievements and future ambitions, while discussing strategic initiatives, major projects, and broader priorities that will help shape the emirate’s next phase of development.
The forum also seeks to strengthen cooperation among institutions and align efforts in support of continuous development and Dubai’s global leadership.
A central theme throughout the event is investment in people as a fundamental driver of achievement, alongside the development of leaders who can respond to change, create opportunities, and turn challenges into practical solutions that support sustainable growth.
Al Gergawi: Mohammed bin Rashid Established an Exceptional Leadership Model
His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, said:
“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has established an exceptional leadership model that has made leadership an approach to shaping the future, continuous development a deeply rooted institutional culture, and investment in people a fundamental pillar for achieving accomplishments. The Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum embodies this approach and reinforces His Highness’s vision of preparing leaders capable of anticipating change, creating opportunities, and developing innovative solutions to future challenges, in a way that supports Dubai’s development journey and strengthens its global leadership.”
He added:
“The forum reflects Dubai’s continued commitment to developing its leadership and management ecosystem by addressing the most prominent trends related to the future of leadership, administrative transformations, and the role of technology and artificial intelligence in reshaping operating models. It also showcases leading practices and pioneering experiences, enhancing the readiness of institutions to keep pace with rapidly accelerating global changes and reinforcing their ability to develop and innovate.”
He also emphasized that the forum represents a strategic platform for exchanging perspectives and creative ideas through a rich agenda of sessions, interactive discussions, and specialized workshops that bring together government and private-sector leaders, decision-makers, and leading minds and experts to discuss strategic priorities and high-impact initiatives across various sectors.
The forum will also strengthen partnerships with global academic institutions, contributing to the development of leadership thinking and reinforcing Dubai’s model for building more efficient, flexible, and sustainable institutional systems.
Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies at the Center of Discussions
The Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum will address the future of government administration and institutional leadership amid rapidly evolving global transformations, with a particular focus on the role of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence in developing new operating models and improving institutional efficiency.
Sessions will also explore the evolution of future cities, economic prospects, and the tools that can help government and private-sector organizations create more flexible and adaptable working environments.
The focus on technology forms part of a broader effort to enhance the readiness of leaders and institutions for rapid change and to maximize the use of digital solutions and artificial intelligence in decision-making and performance improvement.
Honoring the Winner of the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Leadership
The forum will also honor the director general who wins the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Leadership, regarded as the highest leadership distinction within the Government of Dubai.
The medal was launched during the previous edition of the forum by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
It was introduced to strengthen the culture of preparing government leaders and empowering second-line leadership, supporting the long-term sustainability of excellence and leadership across Dubai Government entities.
The first edition of the medal saw participation from 32 government entities in Dubai, reflecting broad engagement with its objectives and its role in developing capabilities and preparing future leaders.
The medal is awarded to the director general in the Government of Dubai who makes the greatest contribution to developing, empowering, training, and highlighting second-line leaders.
This includes building trust within teams and institutions, encouraging employees to achieve their full potential, expanding responsibilities, strengthening institutional empowerment, and promoting decentralization.
Leadership Councils to Discuss the Economy and Future Cities
The Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum will feature discussion sessions, workshops, and lectures led by a select group of leaders and experts, with the aim of transferring global experiences and leading practices while strengthening participants’ ability to anticipate the future and make effective decisions.
The agenda includes several strategic leadership councils, including the Council for the Future of the Next Economy, which will examine trends in growth and innovation, and the Council for Leading Future Cities, which will highlight leading practices in managing urban centers and developing smart infrastructure.
The program also features the Council for the New Global Narrative, which will focus on strengthening Dubai’s economic, media, knowledge, and humanitarian standing internationally.
These councils will broaden discussions around future priorities and give leaders an opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas on the transformations likely to shape management, economies, and cities in the years ahead.
A Meeting Bringing Together Current Leaders and Graduates of the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development
During the forum, the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development will organize a gathering that brings together a number of its graduates with senior government leaders representing a variety of leadership approaches within the Government of Dubai.
The initiative aims to strengthen leadership knowledge and experience while creating opportunities for direct engagement between current leaders and promising Emirati talent.
It also supports the transfer of experience between generations and helps prepare emerging leaders to take on greater responsibilities in the future.
Such meetings provide a practical environment for exchanging experiences and learning from different approaches to leadership and management, contributing to the continued development of participants’ skills and capabilities.
Research Partnerships With Global Universities
The forum will also witness the signing of memorandums of understanding between the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development and a number of international universities.
These partnerships are intended to launch a new wave of leadership research and develop specialized studies documenting Dubai’s transformation under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The research will also examine His Highness’s philosophy and approach to leadership and development.
These academic partnerships are expected to enrich knowledge in leadership and management while providing specialized studies that can support institutional development and the preparation of future leaders in line with evolving global trends.
Preparing Leaders Capable of Shaping the Future
The Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum seeks to keep leaders across Dubai’s various sectors at the center of global change while encouraging collective strategic thinking in decision-making and exposing participants to innovative leadership experiences and models.
Since its establishment, the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development has continued to play an important role in developing leadership capabilities, guided by a vision that places investment in people among the highest priorities and considers human capital the foundation of successful development strategies.
The center works to prepare ambitious and creative leaders and equip them with the tools required for the future, enabling them to anticipate change, sustain achievement, and transform challenges into opportunities.
Its mission centers on preparing the leaders of tomorrow through specialized programs and initiatives designed to identify, build, and develop Emirati leadership talent across different levels.
These programs focus on strengthening adaptability, decision-making, innovation, and the ability to respond to change with flexibility and efficiency.
