Be part of an exceptional journey to design the best city to live in the world.

A journey dedicated to ambitious leaders, empowering them with future-focused government design skills and the fundamentals of creative leadership—rooted in design thinking methodologies, that center on meeting community needs and aspirations to develop innovative solutions.

We need to see them amongst students and teachers; in the markets among traders and investors. We want to hear they are among farmers and at the ports of fishermen, with widows and mothers, senior citizens and with patients, in hospitals and among doctors and staff

We want to see them there and hear them from there, not in conference rooms or forums that have increased and consumed resources and energies. We are a government of achievements, not a government of lectures. We are a team of accomplishers not a team of preachers.

SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

This program offers participants a transformative experience, with specialized workshops hosted by global experts, inspiring field trips, and the ability to lead strategic projects. The objective is to:

Promote Design-Driven Leadership

Adopt a design-led approach based on understanding and meeting the needs of the community, accountability, taking the lead to overcome challenges and fostering effective leaders to drive change.

Lead Human Centered Solutions

Adopt innovative models and solutions, anticipate individual needs, identify trends, and serve with empathy. Achieve this by prioritizing the community, fostering dialogue between decision makers and the community.

Encourage Collaborative Design

Encourage partnerships and communication within government to unite leadership and public entities, aiming for the achievement of common goals and the exchange of ideas.

MASTER THESE CORE CAPABILITIES:

ALUMNI VOICES

Design is a fundamental mindset that must be integrated into all projects and initiatives. I believe that people are the currency of the future, and it is essential that we explore, imagine, design, and implement everything we aspire to achieve.”

KHALIFA AL SHAIBEH

Experimentation is the driving force behind every design journey. With each experiment, each risk, and each observation, design evolves. Experiments are not just a method—they are a mindset that propels us toward something extraordinary.”

LATIFA AL SUWAIDI

One of the most effective tools I practiced during the program was the art of listening and empathy. By putting myself in others’ shoes and asking open-ended questions, I was able to genuinely understand the needs and perspectives of the communities we serve—enriching not only my professional approach but also my personal relationships.”

RUWAYA ABDULLA

The Lead & Design Program is equally about personal transformation and leadership development as it is about design mindsets and skillsets.

TIME COMMITMENT

8 Weeks
PROGRAM DURATION
22 Days
IN-PERSON
8 Days
TRAVEL ABROAD

PROGRAM JOURNEY

SEPTEMBER

Kick Off

1/2 Day — In Person

Dubai

Connecting you to the program’s facilitators, coaches, and fellow participants in an inspiring kick off, establishing expectations about the program ahead.

SEPTEMBER

Design Driven

Leadership Immersion

8 Days — In Person

Design-Led City in Europe (To Be Announced)

In this intensive leadership immersion we will ignite your passion and empower you to become design-driven leaders who can make a positive impact on communities through human-centered approaches and mindsets.

OCTOBER

Human-Centered Design Sprint

8 Days — In Person

Dubai

You will practice your Human Centered Design skills by experiencing an AI-powered design sprint, and apply learnings to forward your missions and create a team plan of action.

OCTOBER

Support Sessions

3 Weeks — In Person | One meeting per week

Dubai

Participants will have the opportunity to meet with experts and trainers to receive individual or group support, discuss challenges, and gain guidance that enhances their skills and helps them progress toward achieving their goals in the program.

NOVEMBER

Closure & Integration

3 Days — In Person

Dubai

The final 3 days of the program will center around concluding the program with your presentations and celebrating the journey together.

The Lead & Design Program seeks to benefit:

Dubai Government:

  • Tackle entity & Government driven initiatives in line with strategic plans and objectives.

  • Bring in fresh perspectives on strategic initiatives.

  • Accelerate innovative solutions to advance strategic priorities.

Entities:

  • Build teams that speak the unified and improved design language for impactful projects.

  • Develop tools and methods that will accelerate teamwork and design processes.
  • Deliver field-ready, high-impact, actionable projects to address complex challenges.
  • Unleashing impact in products, services, systems and policy making.

Individuals:

  • Build design leadership skills and mindsets.

  • Gain Human-Centered Design tools and approaches in the context of real challenges at the public level.

  • Progress in their leadership journey, while connecting with a community of peers through an experiential and transformative learning program. 

  • Launch a personalized learning journey for you, beyond your role.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

U.A.E. National
Working for a Government,
or Government-owned entity
Fluent verbal and
written English skills

What will your
mission be?