Hamdan bin Mohammed approves first recipient of Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Medal

Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has chaired a meeting of the Supervisory Committee of the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Medal and reviewed the evaluation outcomes of the award's inaugural edition. During the meeting, His Highness approved a Director-General as the first recipient of the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Medal. The winner will be announced and honoured at the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum 2026, organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development later this month. The medal, described as the highest accolade within the Government of Dubai, aims to promote a culture of leadership development and empower second-tier leaders across government entities. Investing in future leaders His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said the medal is awarded to a Director-General who demonstrates excellence in empowering and developing second-tier leaders, reflecting the approach of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in preparing future government leaders. "The sustainability of our government institutions relies primarily on preparing strong, capable young leaders across the second and third tiers," His Highness said. "Investing in our national talent and enhancing their leadership capabilities is a top priority to ensure our institutions are ready to navigate future shifts and challenges with efficiency and agility." Evaluation results reviewed During the meeting, His Highness reviewed the results of the evaluation process, which highlighted the readiness of second-tier government leaders and identified promising talent capable of shaping Dubai's future. The review also examined key performance indicators used to assess directors-general in developing and empowering leadership talent. His Highness was briefed on the design of the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Medal, which reflects the award's objective of recognising leadership impact, empowering talent and developing future leaders. The design will be unveiled during the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum 2026. The committee also reviewed outcomes of interviews conducted with participating directors-general and second-tier leaders, as well as leadership practices and models identified during the evaluation process. Comprehensive assessment The inaugural edition involved a comprehensive evaluation process covering 32 directors-general and second-tier leaders across government entities. More than 100 interviews were conducted as part of the assessment process, with the participation of 10 independent global leadership experts. The Supervisory Committee said the evaluation methodology included multiple stages, combining document reviews, evidence-based assessments and specialised interviews to ensure the highest standards of objectivity and impartiality. Governance and transparency During its initial meeting, the committee approved the final list of participating entities and endorsed the regulations, terms and conditions governing the award. The framework was designed to ensure transparency, impartiality and governance across all stages of evaluation, while standardising assessment criteria for participating entities. Building a leadership culture The Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Medal is awarded annually to the Director-General within the Government of Dubai who makes the most significant contribution to developing, empowering, training and supporting second-tier leaders. The award promotes a culture of institutional empowerment through trust, delegation of authority, expanded responsibilities and decentralised decision-making. The initiative also seeks to establish a leadership empowerment framework across government entities through clear plans and standards, while highlighting successful models that other organisations can adopt and replicate.