Family business owners in Dubai got a direct line to the officials shaping the emirate's economic and social direction, as the Dubai Family Business Management Programme wrapped up with two workshops connecting participants to senior government leaders.
The programme was organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development in collaboration with the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses, which operates under Dubai Chambers. The closing sessions brought family business participants face to face with Dubai Government leaders to walk through the city's key economic and social strategies and priorities.
Social investment as business strategy
H.E. Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, presented the objectives of the Dubai Social Agenda 33, which aims to place Dubai among the world's top three cities for standard of living.
She framed family businesses as natural partners in that effort. "Today, we need to redefine social investment as the key driver of business sustainability and social cohesion. Family businesses possess the capabilities and long-term values that uniquely position them to lead this transformation by combining commercial excellence with a humanitarian purpose, and by turning financial success into sustainable and meaningful social impact," Buhumaid said.
Planning for 2040 and beyond
H.E. Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, addressed the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the latest step in a planning journey that began in 1960 and has moved through seven successive urban master plans over six decades.
Bin Ghalita described family businesses as long-standing partners in the emirate's development. "Dubai Municipality places partnership with the private sector at the heart of its vision and strategic plans, particularly family businesses, which contribute their expertise, capabilities and investments to turn projects and initiatives into reality," he said. "For decades, family businesses have been key partners in delivering Dubai's landmark developments and infrastructure projects and have been part of the city's development journey. This partnership has extended beyond project delivery to encompass planning, innovation, investment and the creation of future opportunities. In this context, the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan opens up significant opportunities for investment and growth across housing, economic and tourism activities, beaches, green spaces, and education and healthcare services."
Doubling the economy by 2033
Mohamed Sharaf, Chief Operating Officer for Investment Attraction at Dubai Economic Development Corporation, discussed the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which sets out to double the size of Dubai's economy by 2033 and consolidate the emirate's standing among the world's top three economic cities.
Together, the three briefings gave family business owners a fuller picture of how Dubai's social, urban and economic plans intersect, and where their own companies fit into that agenda. The first of the two closing workshops focused specifically on these key economic and social strategies and priorities set out by the Government of Dubai.