Dubai Customs held a graduation ceremony for the third batch of Leadership Development Program, which is organized in collaboration and implementation with the University of Dubai. A number of officials attended the ceremony including H.E Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Obaid Al Falasi, Executive Director of HR, Finance and Administration Division, Dr. Essa Al Bastaki, President of University of Dubai, alongside a number of senior executives and 35 graduates from Dubai Customs and the University of Dubai
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Dr. Eesa M. Bastaki, and Ahmed Al Falasi, presented memorial shields and certificates to the graduates who have successfully passed the program after completing a total 4500 of training hours – all graduates combined. Director of Dubai Customs, in his address to the graduates, said, "You are the future leaders of Dubai Customs, who will take their first step of responsibility. We count on you for the coming years, and you will continue the march of success and progress. In addition, you will preserve the achieved gains and develop accomplishments of the future in line with the UAE’s leadership vision."
Musabih added, "Dubai Customs is keen on the development of human cadres in the areas of leadership and management with all means that are consistent with the national strategy to develop the skills of young people in order to establish a generation that is able to continue the comprehensive development, as they are the real fortune of our country. You will make the change and accomplish sustainable development."
Musabih expressed his gratitude to the University of Dubai for its cooperation in preparing and implementing this program, which kept pace with the directives of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stating the need to prepare future leaders and care for innovators. The Department has approved this attribute as a method of work for three years to enable staff to develop their skills and to establish creative leaders. He stated that the number of graduates who have benefited from the program since its launch until the current class is 129 male and female employees.
The Director of Dubai Customs urged the graduating employees to live up to their responsibility of seeking continuous learning and self-development for the progress of their country and to raise its name high in the international circles. Moreover, they should invest their creative potentials and energies to achieve Dubai Customs’ goals and vision.
Ahmed Obaid Al Falasi, Executive Director of HR, Finance and Administration Division said, "The program is part of the Department's efforts and keenness to support human resources through ambitious plans and programs to set up a solid base of competent leaders. Those leaders should be capable of advancing the process of development and achieving the strategic objectives that fall within the plan of Dubai Plan 2021 and in line with UAE Vision 2021.
He stressed the keenness of Dubai Customs on accomplishing the future objectives of Dubai Government through encouraging dialogue and open-door communication between top management and staff to enhance the work environment, and achieve efficiency in exchanging experience and knowledge among the employees. The Department has approved the Leaders' Development Program since three years to develop its human resources in line with the best practices of developing leaders in "the Institute of Leadership and Management" in collaboration with the University of Dubai. This program cares about developing the management skills of the second and third lines of managers, based on the directives of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which targets the preparation and development of first-lined, second-lined and third-lined government mangers and leaders.
Al Falasi pointed out that the Leadership Development Program started back in 2013 to qualify the second line of Department's national cadres for the future management designations through specialised training courses that represent the latest materials and the best global practices. The program has witnessed the graduation of two batches since its launch. A total of 45 male and female employees graduated in the first batch in 2013 and 49 in the second batch in 2014. Today we are honouring the graduation of 35 employees of the third batch of 2015.
On his part, Dr. Al Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, said, "Education is key to securing outstanding levels in all fields, including in modern management for institutions and projects. He stated that the University of Dubai appreciates its relationship with Dubai Customs as one of the most significant governmental bodies that always seek the development of its employees and managers skills. He emphasized the importance of the human asset in leading the progress and development in society.
Dr. Essa Al Bastaki praised the notion of the program: "Leadership Development", which coincides with the direction of our wise leadership to prepare future generations to lead the work, stressing that humans are the main driver of success and the basis of any development. He explained that the wise leadership has, in all categories, key attributes, including the vision, courage in decision-making, being a role model for teamwork and creative thinking outside the box, as well as stressing the importance of continuous education and learning as an indispensable driver of economic prosperity and societal welfare.
The ceremony witnessed the graduation of 35 members of the program. The graduates received a total of 4500 hours of direct instruction, 150 hours of training for each participant. The hours included training, research, and discussion in many disciplines as principles of innovation, creativity, global trends and forecasts, self-development plan, strategic management, changing leadership, communication methods, financial planning, performance management, and organizational behavior.