Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, recently chaired a session of the Supervisory Committee for the Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Medal. During the proceedings, he officially approved the first recipient of this high-level accolade, a Director-General-rank official, to be formally honoured this September at the upcoming Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Forum 2026.
This initiative, organized by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development, serves as the premier recognition for government officials in Dubai who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to empowering second-tier leadership. By fostering a culture of delegation, trust, and institutional agility, the medal seeks to establish a global benchmark for public sector management.
In his address to the committee, Sheikh Hamdan underscored that this honour reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. He emphasized that the long-term success of government institutions is tied to the development of capable, agile young leaders in the second and third tiers. “The sustainability of our government institutions relies primarily on preparing strong, capable young leaders across the second and third tiers. Investing in our national talent and enhancing their leadership capabilities is a top priority to ensure our institutions are ready to navigate future shifts and challenges with efficiency and agility,” he stated.
The evaluation process for the inaugural edition was rigorous, spanning 32 participating government entities. The committee, which includes prominent officials like Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Omar Sultan Al Olama, Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, and Saeed Al Eter, oversaw a process that involved over 100 in-depth interviews. To ensure total objectivity and impartiality, the assessment was conducted by 10 independent global leadership experts.
Reflecting on the findings, the evaluation highlighted a wealth of promising talent within Dubai’s government sectors, identifying clear performance indicators for leadership growth. The committee reviewed the specific practices used by Directors-General to delegate authority and expand responsibilities, which are critical to the medal’s criteria. The final design of the medal itself, which captures its mission to inspire innovation and professional development, will be unveiled officially during the September forum.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Medal is designed to be an annual fixture. Beyond recognizing individual achievement, it serves to document and share successful institutional models so that they may be replicated across the public sector. By granting leaders extended authority and involving them in strategic decision-making early in their careers, the program aims to ensure that the city’s infrastructure remains future-ready and capable of handling complex challenges.
The selection process relied on a multi-stage methodology involving both document verification and specialized interviews. This comprehensive approach ensured that the winning Director-General is someone who not only excels in their personal leadership capacity but who actively champions the growth of their teams. As the inaugural recipient prepares for the upcoming recognition, the committee continues to focus on refining the ceremony to ensure it appropriately reflects the prestige of the award. The report also notes that al Basti, Secretary-General of The Executive Council of Dubai; and Saeed Al Eter, Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office. The report also notes that inspiring employees to unlock their full potential to achieve high levels of performance and innovation and promoting a culture of institutional empowerment based on delegating authority, expanding responsibilities, and advancing decentralisation, this is achieved by fostering trust within work teams and institutions. The report also notes that measured against international best practices, this initiative enhances leadership development efforts and positions Dubai’s experience as a global benchmark in leadership development. The report also notes that making these examples known so that other organisations can replicate their success, it also highlights success stories of entities that have significantly advanced leadership empowerment.