15 People Shaping Leadership Development in the UAE
- Jonno White
- Aug 14
- 5 min read
Last updated 14 August 2026.
Why these people belong on the list.
Leadership development in the UAE is not owned by one training room. It sits across government talent teams, public service academies, education, digital transformation, infrastructure and the leaders who turn those systems into day to day capability.
This list focuses on people with a visible connection to leadership development, public service capability, government talent, education leadership or future ready institutions. It builds on the first research pass and refreshes the role spine against current official sources. It is a practical map, not a ranking. If you are building a leadership pipeline in the UAE, start with leadership team building in Dubai, thought leaders in school leadership in the Middle East and Africa, and leadership alignment consulting.
15 people shaping leadership development in the UAE.
Dr Yasir Al Naqbi.
Dr Yasir Al Naqbi is Director General at the Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi. That role connects to the list because his portfolio is directly tied to leadership and capability work inside government.
The useful leadership lesson is that capability grows when leadership programmes sit close to the wider government system. Read the official source for the current role and context for Dr Yasir Al Naqbi.
Mariam Mohamed AlMusharrekh.
Mariam Mohamed AlMusharrekh is Director General of Government Talent at the Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi. That role connects to the list because her remit connects leadership development with the everyday systems that retain and grow talent.
The useful leadership lesson is that leadership development becomes more useful when it is joined to workforce design and employee experience. Read the official source for the current role and context for Mariam Mohamed AlMusharrekh.
Faisal bin Butti Al-Mheiri.
Faisal bin Butti Al-Mheiri is Director General at the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources. That role connects to the list because FAHR is a national public service institution where talent, future skills and government leadership meet.
The useful leadership lesson is that public service leadership needs a clear bridge between talent policy and the skills future work will require. Read the official source for the current role and context for Faisal bin Butti Al-Mheiri.
Dr Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri.
Dr Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri is Executive President at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. That role connects to the list because he sits at the intersection of public administration education, research and executive capability.
The useful leadership lesson is that leadership development is stronger when people can connect theory, public value and practical decisions. Read the official source for the current role and context for Dr Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri.
Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid.
Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid is Director General at the Community Development Authority in Dubai. That role connects to the list because community development gives leadership a public value test beyond internal performance.
The useful leadership lesson is that leaders build better institutions when they keep community outcomes visible in the work. Read the official source for the current role and context for Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid.
Aisha Abdulla Miran.
Aisha Abdulla Miran is Director General at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai. That role connects to the list because education leadership is one of the clearest ways a government shapes capability at scale.
The useful leadership lesson is that developing leaders means investing in the environments where teachers and young people learn to lead. Read the official source for the current role and context for Aisha Abdulla Miran.
Eng Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita.
Eng Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita is Director General at Dubai Municipality. That role connects to the list because his organisation is using a structured pipeline to prepare emerging leaders for complex public work.
The useful leadership lesson is that future leadership is built through repeated practice in influence, communication, systems thinking and decision making. Read the official source for the current role and context for Eng Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. That role connects to the list because large infrastructure institutions need leadership systems that connect technical expertise with public trust.
The useful leadership lesson is that leadership development must prepare people to hold reliability, innovation and service together. Read the official source for the current role and context for Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.
Abdulla Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi.
Abdulla Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi is Director General at the Dubai Government Human Resources Department. That role connects to the list because government human resources is the operating layer that turns leadership intent into policy and practice.
The useful leadership lesson is that leadership culture improves when talent systems make the desired behaviours easier to repeat. Read the official source for the current role and context for Abdulla Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi.
Dr Tayeb Amanalla Kamali.
Dr Tayeb Amanalla Kamali is Director General for Education and Training Development at the Ministry of Interior. That role connects to the list because education and training development is a direct public service capability responsibility.
The useful leadership lesson is that the quality of leadership depends on whether training is connected to the real work people must perform. Read the official source for the current role and context for Dr Tayeb Amanalla Kamali.
Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi.
Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi is Minister of State for Government Development and the Future at the UAE Government. That role connects to the list because government development and future readiness set the direction for the capabilities public institutions need next.
The useful leadership lesson is that future ready leadership starts by making tomorrow’s capability a present management responsibility. Read the official source for the current role and context for Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi is Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Managing Director at the Dubai Future Foundation. That role connects to the list because he links government leadership with a foundation that develops future focused capability.
The useful leadership lesson is that leadership development gains energy when people are given real problems that require design, judgement and collaboration. Read the official source for the current role and context for Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi.
Khalfan Belhoul.
Khalfan Belhoul is Chief Executive Officer at the Dubai Future Foundation. That role connects to the list because his organisation is building leadership capability through design thinking and future focused practice.
The useful leadership lesson is that future leadership improves when people learn to frame problems before rushing to solutions. Read the official source for the current role and context for Khalfan Belhoul.
Younus Abdulaziz Al Nasser.
Younus Abdulaziz Al Nasser is Chief Executive Officer at the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment. That role connects to the list because data leadership helps public institutions replace assumption with clearer evidence and learning.
The useful leadership lesson is that leaders develop faster when they can see the signals that show whether their choices are working. Read the official source for the current role and context for Younus Abdulaziz Al Nasser.
Sameera Mohammad Al Rais.
Sameera Mohammad Al Rais is Assistant Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai at the Sustainable Development Sector. That role connects to the list because sustainable development requires leaders who can connect long term outcomes with present day choices.
The useful leadership lesson is that leadership development is more durable when it teaches people to work across time horizons and boundaries. Read the official source for the current role and context for Sameera Mohammad Al Rais.
A practical way to use this list.
Use these names as a starting point for better questions. Which capabilities does your organisation need next? Where do your emerging leaders get real practice? Which systems reward the kind of leadership you say you want? The strongest leadership development work turns those questions into visible choices about roles, projects, feedback and support.
The companion post keeps the wider research set visible without turning every person into a full profile. The blog is the evidence led shortlist. The companion is the broader map.