Dubai's Crown Prince has said training local talent with the skills to design the future is key to achieving the emirate's vision, as he attended the graduation ceremony of the first batch of the Dubai Future Experts Programme.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), said Dubai continues to create new global success stories thanks to the commitment of its citizens who are determined to play a role in shaping the future.
His Highness said the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has inspired exceptional efforts from various stakeholders and talented individuals.
"We have learned from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid that by diligently applying our talent, we can make the impossible possible. Our objective is to ensure that all government entities are able to prepare their teams in dealing with future challenges by equipping them with tools and skills for strategic planning and designing the future so that they can support Dubai and the nation in their innovation journeys and enhance preparedness for the future," Sheikh Hamdan said.
The Dubai Future Experts Programme was jointly launched by the Dubai Future Foundation and the Executive Council, and is managed by the Dubai Future Academy.
It trains local talent and equips them with the skills and expertise to design future-related initiatives in Dubai Government entities.
The first batch of graduates included 18 government employees, selected from hundreds of applicants.
They developed 34 scenarios in six sectors including the economy, food security, future cities, healthcare and wellbeing, human resources and transportation.
Sheikh Hamdan reviewed several projects developed by participants in the scheme, and was also briefed about a number of programmes on current and future trends in healthcare and industry, as well as the projected psychological and economic impact of COVID-19.
Participants also had the opportunity to collaborate with the American Red Cross to conduct research on key medical, healthcare, social and economic developments and their impact on the future global course of the pandemic over the next 18 months.