Mohammed Bin Rashid Celebrates Graduation Of First Cohort From Nafis Leadership Programme

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of the Nafis Leadership Programme. This event was organised by the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC) in collaboration with the UAE Government Leaders Programme and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).

The ceremony took place during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2024 in Abu Dhabi. His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of ETCC's Board of Directors, was also present. Other notable attendees included His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Launched last year, the inaugural edition of the Nafis Leadership Programme offered participants 170 hours of intensive training. This included both face-to-face and virtual interactive workshops, as well as field visits within the UAE and abroad. The programme aims to foster innovative thinking by enabling participants to apply modern leadership concepts through direct engagement with experts.

A significant feature of this programme was an educational trip to Singapore. Participants explored Singapore's advanced business leadership model and visited the National University of Singapore. This university is ranked among the world's top eight universities and is a leading institution in Asia.

Ghannam Butti Al Mazrouei, Secretary General of ETCC, highlighted that the Nafis Leadership Programme aligns closely with the vision supported by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He expressed pride in the graduating cohort, stating: "Today, we celebrate outstanding individuals who have successfully completed a rigorous selection process, including stringent assessments overseen by accredited training entities."

Khaled Sharaf, Director of the UAE Government Leaders Programme, emphasised that this graduation marks an important step in developing national talent for future economic roles. He noted that this programme acts as an incubator for talent while promoting sustainable growth aligned with ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.

Supporting National Employment Strategy

The Nafis Leadership Programme also supports the ‘National Employment Strategy 2031’. It aims to attract, develop, and empower Emirati talent within various industries. As one of ETCC's flagship programmes, it builds on other initiatives launched in partnership with sector leaders to develop young Emirati talent across key sectors.

This initiative offers specialised training programmes designed to enhance Emirati workforce capabilities significantly. By nurturing competitive skills among Emiratis, it seeks to boost economic productivity while positioning the UAE as a global hub for new economy ventures.

With inputs from WAM