Hamdan bin Mohammed attends graduation of Ministry of Defence personnel

Dubai: Under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the Ministry of Defence celebrated the graduation of 50 personnel from its Future Leaders Executive Programme and Young Leaders Empowerment Executive Programme.

Held in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, the ceremony marked the graduation of the second cohort of the Future Leaders programme and the first cohort of the Young Leaders Empowerment programme, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE Armed Forces.

The ceremony, held under the theme “Proud of You for Making a Difference,” was attended by senior officials and high-ranking leaders from both organisations.

Sheikh Hamdan highlighted that investment in people remains the cornerstone of national development, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.

His Highness emphasised that empowering government and military leaders with strategic thinking and future-focused capabilities is a national priority that strengthens the UAE’s competitiveness and global leadership.

“We take pride in the national talent that continues to make a positive impact across various fields,” Sheikh Hamdan said. “Empowering young leaders and developing their capabilities is an investment in the future of our nation and the sustainability of its achievements. Building leaders who can anticipate change, adapt to global transformations, and turn challenges into opportunities is essential to strengthening our institutions and enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness.”

A total of 50 Ministry of Defence staff graduated from the programmes, with 25 participants completing each initiative after fulfilling all requirements.

Designed and delivered by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government in line with international best practices, the programmes aim to enhance institutional effectiveness and adaptability while equipping national talent with strategic thinking, future foresight, and transformation management capabilities.

The training, conducted over several months, combined in-person sessions with self-paced virtual learning, enabling participants to better understand future government directions and their impact on decision-making amid rapid global changes.

The Future Leaders Executive Programme focuses on developing transformational leadership skills, including scenario analysis, institutional change management, strategic thinking, performance management, and building strong institutional identity.

Meanwhile, the Young Leaders Empowerment Executive Programme aims to strengthen leadership and administrative capabilities among emerging national talent, with a focus on team management, communication, customer service, time management, and handling workplace challenges.

Both programmes incorporated modern training methodologies, including interactive learning, case study analysis, and insights from leading local and international government experiences. Participants also engaged in dialogue sessions under the “Meet a Leader” initiative.

The programmes culminated in collaborative projects designed to translate knowledge into practical solutions, improve institutional performance, and promote a culture of innovation and effective decision-making.

The graduation reflects the UAE’s commitment to investing in people as a driver of development and reinforces the country’s strategy to build agile, future-ready government institutions capable of navigating global challenges and sustaining growth.