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Dubai World and Wharton School to launch 'Dubai Leaders Programme'

The Programme was announced in the presence of Dubai World's Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, distinguished Chief Executive Officers of the Group's corporate organisations and representatives from the Wharton School, which was established in 1881 and is recognised as one of the world's leading business schools.

The Dubai Leaders Programme is one of the top corporate development programmes that can be found globally. The interactive programme is focused on enhancing the strategic thinking and leadership capabilities of the participants, who will be invited to the Wharton School's Philadelphia campus to attend a series of executive education and action learning programmes.

The design of the programme is ambitious and unique, and will use a combination of methods and tools to develop the candidates over a one year period.

In a speech at the recent Dubai Government Excellence Programme Awards ceremony, Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted needed future development initiatives that will boost the growth process by intensifying efforts towards introducing new generations of young leaders.

"As part of our continued efforts to develop Dubai World's leaders and emerging National talent, and in line with what we have learnt from His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that our true measure is not in what we have achieved yesterday, but rather in what we will achieve tomorrow, we have taken the lead by launching the Dubai Leaders Programme. This initiative will be an example of excellence in leadership development, and will set a new standard and example for public and private sector organisations across the region seeking to implement and take their development programmes to new levels", said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem

Outlining the purpose of the programme, Bin Sulayem added, "Dubai Leaders Programme will review the readiness and capabilities of our personnel to assume positions of leadership within Dubai World's group of companies. This is in line with the foresight and vision of His HIghness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of grooming our National human resources for creatively and responsibly guiding and sustaining Dubai's future development."

"Under the Dubai Leaders Programme, an ambitious and comprehensive tailored management development plan will be formulated, in keeping with Dubai World's specific strategy and overall objectives. Over a period of two months, the Wharton School's staff and faculty have identified and assessed the management capabilities of our personnel, leading to a personal development programme where a team of senior managers will participate," said Mahmoud Saleh, Executive Director of Shared Services and Secretary General of Dubai World.

"We met with a number of young leaders and asked them where they see themselves in 5 years. Based on their inputs and considering the booming economy of Dubai, we designed a customised programme, which is the first of its kind in the region. The young leaders in Dubai World are enthusiastic and enterprising, and the academic course along with the live experience that the program provides, will help them become global leaders," said Nihat Bülent Gültekin, Associate Professor of Finance, at the Wharton School.

The Dubai Leaders Programme addresses three different levels of executive educational needs, organisation-wide business management skills, business organisation specific skills and individual skills. The programme will be run in phases over a one-year period.