The Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment has launched the "Housing Pioneers" initiative, aimed at preparing a new generation of leaders capable of driving institutional transformation and creating sustainable innovation in the housing sector, by empowering and qualifying second-tier leadership and building cadres that possess the vision, flexibility, and ability to drive change.
Mohammed Hassan Al Shahi, Executive Director of the Establishment, confirmed that the initiative represents a comprehensive training programme targeting the development of second-tier leaders and the preparation of future leaders, thereby enhancing the Establishment's readiness for institutional transformation and entrenching a culture of innovation. He noted that it embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, in investing in people as the true wealth and principal driver of sustainable development, and in preparing national leaders capable of anticipating the future and turning challenges into opportunities and achievements.
He added that the programme involved 15 second-tier leaders who underwent a developmental experience spanning 6 months, targeting the enhancement of the departments' future readiness, the raising of institutional resilience, and the consolidation of a culture of innovation and continuous development, in line with the Dubai Government's orientation towards building proactive institutions capable of keeping pace with change.
He explained that the programme comprised 162 training hours per participant, totalling 2,430 hours of learning, application, projects, and interactive activities, through a blend combining theoretical knowledge, practical application, and real-world challenges linked to the work environment, contributing to the development of participants' leadership, managerial, technical, and personal dimensions.
He noted that the initiative was directly linked to institutional outcomes, resulting in the development of 3 strategic innovative projects representing practical models of transformation in the housing sector. These included the "Smart Hybrid Construction" project, which aims to accelerate delivery and improve implementation quality through modern construction technologies; the "Smart Housing Maintenance" project, which transitions maintenance from the traditional model to proactive, data- and smart-technology-based maintenance; and a project employing drone technology to monitor projects, audit productivity, enhance oversight efficiency, and improve decision-making quality.
He pointed out that the programme's impact was not limited to participants but extended to the institutional work environment, contributing to the promotion of a culture of collaboration and innovation across departments and the launch of more than 20 knowledge and development activities and initiatives involving employees and leaders, with the aim of turning knowledge into practice and ideas into tangible results.
The Establishment also launched, as part of the programme, the "Coffee and a Book" initiative, which drew on the book Life Taught Me by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which was reviewed and discussed weekly within departments, contributing to the promotion of a culture of continuous learning, the dissemination of knowledge, and the creation of a positive work environment that encourages initiative and responsibility.
He stated that the programme's results reflected its success in achieving its objectives: the satisfaction rate among participants reached 99.7%, the programme received international accreditation, participants earned 9 specialised local and international certificates, and its impact was felt among approximately 200 employees within the teams led by participants, enhancing institutional performance and raising the level of future readiness.