Sharjah’s Leading Organisations Conclude Transformative Leadership Development Programme
The Sharjah Economic Development Department and Shurooq have successfully completed a six-month initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of government leaders, equipping them with essential capabilities for navigating an evolving institutional landscape.
A significant milestone in Sharjah’s commitment to talent development has been reached with the conclusion of the “Promising Leaders” programme, a collaborative initiative between the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) and the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). Delivered in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, the six-month programme engaged sixteen talented government professionals—nine from SEDD and seven from Shurooq—in an intensive learning experience designed to strengthen institutional leadership capabilities.
The programme addressed five core training pillars: management and institutional understanding, strategic planning, project and team management, digital and future leadership, and public-private partnerships. Beyond classroom instruction, participants engaged in self-directed learning, leadership mentoring through twinning initiatives, networking sessions with established leaders, and strategic field visits that enriched their practical understanding of contemporary governance challenges.
Transforming Knowledge into Innovation
Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Chairman of SEDD and member of the Sharjah Executive Council, emphasised the programme’s alignment with institutional priorities: “The ‘Promising Leaders’ programme reflects the SEDD’s commitment to investing in talent and developing leadership capabilities, enabling employees to keep pace with rapid changes, anticipate the future, and turn challenges into opportunities for development and innovation.” He highlighted the calibre of participants’ contributions, particularly their innovative projects addressing artificial intelligence, digital transformation and service enhancement.
The initiative yielded four innovative projects demonstrating the programme’s emphasis on practical application. SEDD teams developed a sophisticated artificial intelligence system for transaction auditing and an interactive chatbot designed to respond to customer enquiries and deliver certain services through conversational interfaces. Shurooq presented a comprehensive national digital platform powered by artificial intelligence for government services delivery and a smart facility-booking system targeting visitors and tourists.
Building Sustainable Institutional Capacity
Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Executive Officer of Shurooq, stressed the strategic importance of such initiatives: “Investing in talent is a fundamental pillar for strengthening institutions’ ability to continue developing and creating sustainable impact.” He underscored the critical role of leadership programmes in preparing employees for expanded responsibilities whilst fostering an institutional culture that encourages innovation and practical application of learning.
Dr Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, positioned the programme within the broader national agenda of building future-ready governments. The School’s approach prioritises the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical methodologies, enabling participants to translate institutional insights into implementable solutions whilst developing decision-making capabilities grounded in experience and strategic foresight.
Sheikha Al Muhairi, Director of Executive Education at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, observed that the programme’s success lay in its integrated approach: “The programme enabled participants to apply the skills and knowledge they acquired by developing practical projects reflecting workplace needs, strengthening their ability to turn knowledge into applicable solutions and practices.”
The collaborative initiative reflects both organisations’ sustained commitment to human capital development and their recognition that institutional excellence depends upon cultivating leaders capable of strategic thinking, adaptive problem-solving and innovation. By creating structured opportunities for talented government professionals to develop, apply and refine advanced leadership competencies, SEDD and Shurooq are strengthening Sharjah’s institutional foundation for continued progress.
Source: WAM