The global economic turmoil offers an excellent opportunity for Dubai’s emerging generation of corporate executives to study and understand the complexities of crisis management and decision-making, according to HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World.
The Dubai World Chairman made the remarks while addressing the 3rd intake of the group’s senior management executives who are undergoing custom-made leadership development under the Dubai Leaders Program (DLP) in partnership with the Wharton Business School. The 44 participants are currently in the final phase of the year-long programme. One of the participants is from the Dubai Autism Center, and has been included as part of Dubai World’s commitment to reach out to the wider UAE community.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman Dubai World, said:
“We believe that nurturing talent plays an important role in achieving corporate success. The development of leadership skills at a personal level contributes to the growth of the company as well. This is the basis of our commitment to the Dubai Leaders Program. We believe the global economic turmoil offers an excellent opportunity for this emerging generation of corporate executives to study and understand the complexities of crisis management and decision-making. This initiative furthers our contribution to grooming the country’s future business leaders to the highest level of excellence.”
Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, Director of Dubai World Leadership Center (DWLC), said:
“We are pleased to announce that Dubai Leaders Program has progressed as planned. The programme will help participants further develop their leadership perspective, and better equip them to face any crisis. Dubai World management has enthusiastically supported DWLC, further strengthening Dubai Leaders Program’s outcome, which is designed to create a cadre of world-class leaders who are able to maintain the pace of Dubai’s growth.”
Bedoor Khouri, Manager of Dubai World Leadership Center, said:
“The commencement of the final phase of Dubai Leaders Program marks an important step in our development matrix. We have developed a carefully tailored matrix in partnership with Wharton School that takes the participants through various case studies and action learning experiences in order to fine-tune their leadership skills.”
This year Dubai World Leadership Center is bringing Wharton School’s faculty to Dubai exclusively for the final phase sessions. The DLP participants have already spent three weeks at the Wharton campus in Philadelphia, USA. Earlier this year they also travelled on a Global Learning Journey to Hong Kong, Singapore and China.
Faisal Al Raisi, Deputy Head of Development of Arabian Canal at Dubai World’s global, integrated real estate master developer Limitless and one of the DLP participants, said:
“The study matrices were challenging, but it is a great learning experience. The theoretical and practical sessions we underwent at Wharton opened our eyes to new ideas and concepts of crisis evaluation and decision-making. The Global Learning Journey that followed brought us face-to-face with booming economies and different cultures. I am proud to be part of DLP, which has helped me develop not only my leadership skills, but also my overall capabilities.”
Dubai Leaders Program is custom-made to suit Dubai World’s corporate national leadership development goals. The participants are handpicked after a careful screening process. The chief executives of Dubai World companies nominate the list of senior emirati executives based on their job track record for the year long programme. Every year DWLC assesses around 400 applications out of which 45 are finally chosen.
The previous two DLP intakes, comprising a total of 70 senior executives from all Dubai World business units, graduated in 2007 and 2008. The graduation of the third group will be held in June, 2009.
About Dubai World
Dubai World is Dubai's global investment flag bearer focusing on five strategic growth areas: Transport & Logistics, Drydocks & Maritime, Urban Development, Investment & Financial Services, and Energy & Natural Resources.
Its portfolio comprises some of the world’s best known companies, including DP World, Drydocks World & Dubai Maritime City, Economic Zones World, Nakheel, Leisurecorp, and Istithmar World.
Dubai World’s strategy is driven by a combination of pragmatic acquisitions and prudent investments and its corporate philosophy is based on strong fundamentals, best ethical practices and integrity.
