Dubai Municipality launches 'Future Leadership Programme' with Georgetown University

emirates7 - Dubai Municipality has launched the Dubai Municipality Future Leadership Programme, a comprehensive strategic initiative designed to develop and prepare second- and third-line government leaders.

The programme aims to strengthen leadership readiness, ensure the sustainability of national talent, and support the objectives of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and institutional priorities, reflecting the municipality’s commitment to building leadership capabilities that enable transformation and future-focused governance.

The programme is implemented through a strategic partnership with Georgetown University in Dubai, which will lead the design and delivery of the programme and provide academic oversight.

“City-building today is no longer limited to infrastructure and services. It depends fundamentally on developing leaders with the vision, readiness and decision-making capability to guide institutions through complexity and change,” said Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director-General of Dubai Municipality.

He added that the programme represents a strategic platform to prepare leaders who can turn challenges into opportunities and contribute to Dubai’s long-term competitiveness and future ambitions.

The programme is designed to strengthen leadership and technical capabilities, foster innovation in government work, and connect leadership development with real operational challenges.

Participants will be exposed to global best practices in municipal leadership, adapted to Dubai’s development context and priorities, while drawing on the municipality’s leadership legacy and its historic role in shaping the emirate’s urban transformation.

Spanning six months, the programme comprises a structured series of leadership and specialised modules covering leadership and influence, building high-performing teams, strategic communication, crisis management and decision-making, project management and systems thinking, innovation leadership, and institutional transformation.

The programme also includes interactive leadership dialogue sessions with senior decision-makers and executive leaders, alongside dedicated sessions highlighting Dubai Municipality’s leadership journey and institutional experience.

A core component of the programme is the design and implementation of applied development projects that address real challenges across Dubai Municipality’s sectors and entities. This approach ensures that leadership learning is translated into practical outcomes that support strategic priorities, strengthen institutional integration, and advance sustainable development and continuous improvement.

Participation in the programme will be limited to a selected group of employees from second- and third-line leadership levels, based on defined criteria including leadership experience, performance, and institutional diversity.

The launch of the programme reflects the municipality’s long-term vision to invest in government leadership, enhance readiness for the future of cities, and establish a pioneering model for developing leaders capable of driving sustainable urban and institutional transformation, further strengthening Dubai’s position as a global leader in innovation and quality of life.