The Emirates Competitiveness Council opens registration for the third session of the “Competitive Leaders” program

The Emirates Competitiveness Council announced the opening of nominations and participation in the third session of the “Nafes Leaders” program, starting today until December 31, 2025, as part of its strategic efforts aimed at empowering national competencies, enhancing their leadership skills, and cultivating a new generation of distinguished national leaders in the private sector. Those wishing to submit nominations can submit applications through the UAE Government Leaders platform, or through the following link (click here).

The announcement of the launch of the new batch of the program comes as an embodiment of the directives of the wise leadership and its continued keenness to qualify effective national leadership cadres, who contribute in their vital role in promoting sustainable development paths and advancing economic growth, and as an extension of the success of the two previous batches that were implemented in cooperation with the UAE Government Leadership Program in the Prime Minister’s Office in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, as they constituted a prominent station in preparing an elite group of Emirati leaders capable of making a qualitative impact in the sector. Private sector, and consolidating the presence of national competencies in various vital sectors, in line with the ambitious future vision of the UAE.

Ghanam Al Mazrouei: Strengthening the ability of national cadres to acquire future skills and adapt to the labor market

Ghanam Al Mazrouei, Secretary-General of the Emirates Competitiveness Council, confirmed that the first and second sessions of the “Nafes Leaders” program achieved outstanding success, praising the strategic partnership and effective cooperation with the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs in designing and implementing the program.

He said: “We are pleased to announce the launch of the third cycle of the program, which aims to hone the leadership skills of Emirati cadres in the private sector, thus contributing to the preparation of a qualified leadership generation that keeps pace with the requirements of the next stage.”
He added that investing in human capital constitutes an essential pillar in enhancing the ability of national competencies to acquire the skills of the future, and to adapt flexibly and effectively to the rapid transformations in the labor market, thus consolidating the position of the national economy and enhancing its sustainability and competitiveness on the global stage.

Muhammad Al-Sharhan: “Nafes Leaders” is a platform to enhance the presence of national talents in the private sector

For his part, Mohammed Yousef Al-Sharhan, Director of the Government Leadership and Talent Department in the Prime Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, stressed that building national capabilities, qualifying Emirati cadres, and empowering them with the skills of the future, constitutes a fundamental axis in the directions of the UAE government, and is considered a fundamental pillar in its initiatives aimed at embodying the directives of the wise leadership in enhancing investment in citizen human capital.

Al-Sharhan added that the “Nafes Leadership” program represents an advanced platform that contributes to building national capabilities and enhancing the presence of Emirati talents in the private sector in general, including the banking sector. He pointed out that the program provides Emirati talents with a stimulating environment for creativity and excellence in the fields of economics and entrepreneurship, which enhances their competitiveness and increases their potential for growth and development in the future labor market.

Qualifying national cadres and empowering them with future skills
The “Competitive Leaders” program provides an integrated platform aimed at developing the capabilities of national cadres and qualifying them with future skills that enhance their readiness for success and competition in the changing labor market. The third batch of the program comes as an extension of the successes achieved in the previous two sessions, supported by an effective strategic partnership between the Emirates Competitiveness Council and the UAE Government Leadership Programme.

Applicants to the program undergo two stages of evaluation, the first includes a virtual test, and the second an in-person evaluation, on the basis of which the best candidates are selected to join the program. The evaluation process depends on specific criteria, including that the applicant must be a citizen of the country working in leadership or supervisory positions in the private sector, must be at least 25 years old, hold a high diploma or higher, and must have experience in leading work teams, be fluent in both Arabic and English, in addition to having completed the mandatory national service program.

The program focuses on developing the leadership skills of distinguished Emirati talents, and empowering them through interactive and specialized training workshops, which contribute to raising their competitiveness and enhancing the chances of sustaining their success. The program also includes in-person and virtual sessions, in addition to field visits inside and outside the country, and direct meetings with experts and leaders from various sectors, which contributes to expanding participants’ horizons and enhancing their abilities to apply the latest leadership concepts and models in the work environment.