(MBRCLD) brings family business participants, Dubai leaders together

The Dubai Family Business Management Programme, organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) in collaboration with the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses (DCFB), concluded its knowledge journey with a series of high-level events, held as part of Dubai’s vision to strengthen the strategic partnership between the public and private sectors. The programme culminated in leadership engagements delivered through two specialised workshops that brought participants together with a number of Dubai Government leaders.
 
The Dubai Family Business Management Programme is the result of a strategic partnership between the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) and the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses (DCFB), which operates under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers. The programme reflects Dubai’s continued commitment to bringing family business leaders closer to government leaders and decision-makers. Within this vision, MBRCLD designed and developed the programme’s leadership and executive pathways, incorporating leadership engagements and specialised workshops that strengthen alignment in visions, partnerships and priorities between the two sectors.
 
The new events provided a strategic platform for programme participants to engage directly with a number of senior officials and leaders in Dubai, gain first-hand insights into the latest development and economic trends, draw inspiration from leading leadership experiences, and acquire the latest media skills required to keep pace with the emirate’s future aspirations.
 
The events also saw dynamic interaction between participants in the Dubai Family Business Management Programme and participants in MBRCLD programmes, providing a valuable opportunity to expand professional networks and connections, and strengthen communication and collaboration between young and promising leaders in the public and private sectors.
 
Economic and social priorities
The first event addressed the key economic and social strategies and priorities of the Government of Dubai, strengthening public-private partnerships and engaging participants in economic and community projects through government partnerships. The event aimed to build bridges of communication and cooperation between family businesses and government entities.
 
During the first event, H.E. Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, presented the objectives of the Dubai Social Agenda 33, which places people’s quality of life and wellbeing at the forefront of its priorities and aims to position Dubai among the world’s top three cities in terms of standard of living.
 
H.E. Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, highlighted the key objectives of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which sets out an integrated roadmap for sustainable urban development centred on people and enhancing quality of life in Dubai. He also reviewed the beginning of Dubai’s planning and development journey in 1960, driven by a forward-looking vision that laid the foundations for the city’s sustainable growth. Beginning with Dubai Creek and its earliest neighbourhoods, the city developed around trade, community connectivity, ease of mobility and local identity. Over six decades, Dubai evolved through seven successive urban master plans that kept pace with its growing ambitions while placing people at the heart of development.
 
Mohamed Sharaf, Chief Operating Officer for Investment Attraction at Dubai Economic Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, discussed the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to double the size of the emirate’s economy by 2033 and consolidate its position among the world’s top three economic cities.
 
Sustainable and meaningful social value
Commenting on future growth opportunities, H.E. Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, called on family businesses to explore the promising opportunities offered by the “Fourth Sector”, or the social entrepreneurship sector.
 
Her Excellency said: “Today, we need to redefine social investment as the key driver of business sustainability and social cohesion. Family businesses possess the capabilities and long-term values that uniquely position them to lead this transformation by combining commercial excellence with a humanitarian purpose, and by turning financial success into sustainable and meaningful social impact.”
 
H.E. Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, affirmed that Dubai’s success is built on a strong partnership between the government and the private sector, which has helped transform ambitions into tangible projects and achievements and strengthened its role in shaping Dubai’s future, where the government’s vision integrates with the expertise and investments of the private sector to build a better city for future generations.
 
His Excellency said: “Dubai Municipality places partnership with the private sector at the heart of its vision and strategic plans, particularly family businesses, which contribute their expertise, capabilities and investments to turn projects and initiatives into reality. For decades, family businesses have been key partners in delivering Dubai’s landmark developments and infrastructure projects and have been part of the city’s development journey. This partnership has extended beyond project delivery to encompass planning, innovation, investment and the creation of future opportunities. In this context, the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan opens up significant opportunities for investment and growth across housing, economic and tourism activities, beaches, green spaces, and education and healthcare services.”
 
The Director General of Dubai Municipality called on participants and the new generation of family business leaders to capitalise on Dubai’s rapidly accelerating economic growth and to develop and propose comprehensive and innovative solutions, partnerships and services that contribute to the development of key business sectors. He encouraged them to build on the journey of previous generations in developing the city and advancing its agendas, national plans and long-term projects.
 
Enhancing business readiness
H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, said: “Family businesses are a longstanding pillar of Dubai’s economy and a vital partner in advancing sustainable economic development. Through the Dubai Family Business Management Programme, we are committed to enhancing their readiness for the future, strengthening their institutional capabilities, and supporting the adoption of best practices. These efforts contribute to the sustainability of their businesses, enhance their ability to keep pace with change and capitalise on new opportunities, and support their expansion from Dubai into regional and global markets.”
 
Mohamed Sharaf, Chief Operating Officer for Investment Attraction at Dubai Economic Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “These meetings provide an important platform for fostering direct dialogue, building a shared understanding of Dubai’s priorities, and exchanging leadership insights and experiences. They also help develop the capabilities of future leaders in the private sector, empowering them to translate economic priorities into high-impact initiatives and opportunities with tangible outcomes. The partnership between the public and private sectors remains a cornerstone of achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The private sector, including family businesses, is a strategic partner in driving growth, attracting investment, enhancing Dubai’s competitiveness, supporting sustainable economic growth, and reinforcing its position as a leading global destination for business and investment.”
 
Interactive environment
Majed Al Shamsi, Director of MBRCLD, affirmed that the collaboration with the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses reflects the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership to develop future leaders capable of steering the economy efficiently and effectively.
 
He said: “Through this collaboration, we aim to contribute to creating an interactive environment that brings together Dubai leaders, participants in our programmes and family businesses, enabling the direct transfer of strategic experiences and expertise and bringing private sector leaders closer to the emirate’s development and economic priorities.”
 
Al Shamsi added: “These events provide an exceptional opportunity to strengthen interaction and expand networks and connections among participants from the public and private sectors, positively contributing to building an integrated leadership community in Dubai. Empowering talent with modern skills is a fundamental pillar for ensuring the sustainability of family businesses and supporting their role as a key partner in achieving the objectives of Dubai’s future agenda and the sustainability and growth of its economy.”
 
Developing media skills
The second event focused on enhancing the readiness of Dubai Family Business Management Programme participants to engage with the media and develop their media presence. During the event, H.E. Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office, outlined the principles of building an impactful media presence and developing key messages tailored to different audience segments. The session also focused on developing television, radio and press interview skills, enhancing participants’ ability to communicate messages clearly and confidently.

Held at Creators HQ, the first dedicated hub for content creators in the UAE and the Middle East, which operates under the umbrella of Visioneers, the UAE’s largest platform for content management and development, the event introduced participants to best practices for building professional relationships with the media, understanding how media organisations operate and their requirements, responding to media enquiries and sensitive situations, and managing media communications during crises.
 
The workshop included practical exercises and simulations of realistic media scenarios designed to hone presentation skills, ensure the effective use of body language and tone of voice, build confidence in front of cameras and audiences, and equip participants to handle difficult questions professionally in a way that reflects the speaker’s credibility and strengthens the corporate reputation of family businesses.
 
The workshop focused on strengthening the capabilities of second-line leaders in Dubai’s family businesses to manage media communications efficiently, craft impactful corporate messages, and represent their companies professionally across different media platforms.