BLOG: The NEP Experience

November 25–27, 2024 | Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Co-organized with the Prime Minister’s Office, Module 2 focused on fostering a Worldly Mindset. The module began at Emirates Towers in Dubai, with a day dedicated to exploring the UAE’s forward-looking governance and innovation strategies, including: 

• H.E. Saeed Al-Eter, Chair of the UAE Government Media Office on the critical role of media and public diplomacy in advancing the nation’s global narrative. 
• H.E. Khalid Al Harmoodi, Assistant General Secretary for Cabinet Affairs Support, General Secretariat of the UAE Cabinet, on next-generation government policies, emphasizing agility and adaptability as hallmarks of leadership. 
• Haitham AlRais, Deputy Chief of Strategy at the Prime Minister’s Office, on the importance of strategy and innovation in achieving national goals. 
• Dr. Tarek Taha, Lead of Robotics Lab, Dubai Future Foundation, on transformative technologies, including robotics and AI, and their potential to shape future progress.

The second day at Emirates Towers focused on shaping the UAE’s future, global competitiveness and governance excellence, including: 

• H.E. Mohamed bin Taliah, Chief of Government Services, on strategies for elevating public sector services to new levels of performance. 
• H.E. Hanan Ahli, Director General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, on key initiatives to ensure the UAE remains a leader on the global stage. 
• H.E. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, on knowledge exchange programs that foster innovation and growth. 

As part of a visit to Fiker Institute, Dubai Abulhoul was interviewed by NEP Alumna Sara Alhashemi on the importance of soft power and diplomacy in establishing the UAE as a thought leader on global challenges.

The final day of Module 2 took place in the National Projects Office in Abu Dhabi, where the focus was on building practical leadership skills, including: 

• H.E. Ahmed Al Shamsi, NEP Director, on the significance of volunteering and community service as integral components of leadership. 
• Nimer Abu Ali, Partner at Ernst & Young, on business plans and other tools to design financially sound initiatives. 
• Prof. Chantal Westgate, Senior Faculty Lecturer at McGill University, on network building and the importance of cultivating influential relationships to drive impactful outcomes. 
• Panel with NEP Alumni Abeer AlKhaja and Afra Al Meheiri with UAE olympians Yousuf Al Matroushi, and Safia Alsayegh on resilience and excelling on the world stage.