The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), in collaboration with The Executive Council of Dubai, has officially opened applications for the sixth cohort of the Dubai Future Experts Program (DEEP). Designed to institutionalize foresight practices within the public sector, the initiative trains government leaders to anticipate technological and socioeconomic shifts rather than merely reacting to them.
Quick Facts
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Program spans six months across two specialized certification levels.
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Targets Emirati middle and senior management in Dubai government.
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Applications for the sixth cohort close April 17, 2026.
Structuring Applied Foresight In Government Entities
The upcoming six-month cohort is divided into two distinct tracks designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical execution capabilities.
The first level, Certified Foresight Practitioner, focuses heavily on applied learning. Participants evaluate alternative approaches to strategic planning through in-person sessions, fieldwork, and hands-on exercises with advanced foresight frameworks.
The second tier, Certified Foresight Ambassador, requires participants to apply their training to active institutional challenges. Officials will design and execute a project relevant to their specific sector, utilizing mentorship and peer-to-peer collaboration to build actionable strategies for the emirate.
Scaling Innovation Across The Public Sector
Since its inception, DEEP has graduated 99 experts from 45 distinct government entities, generating 133 projects aimed at modernizing public policy and infrastructure.
Abdulaziz AlJaziri, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer at DFF, emphasized that building a forward-looking mindset is a core priority for the emirate’s leadership.
“Dubai continues to foster a culture of future readiness, designing its opportunities, and empowering experts specialized in foresight across various government sector entities,” AlJaziri said.
He added that the strategic approach has delivered sustainable impact by upgrading the capabilities of strategy planning teams across the government. This shifts the operational focus from managing current transformations to actively anticipating future challenges.
Upon graduation, participants gain entry into the DEEP alumni network. This grants them access to broader regional foresight networks, ongoing knowledge exchange, and opportunities to serve as judges or guest speakers in future tech and strategy initiatives.
About Dubai Future Experts Program
Jointly developed by The Executive Council of Dubai and the Dubai Future Foundation, the Dubai Future Experts Program (DEEP) is an educational initiative focused on building strategic foresight capabilities within the public sector. The program targets middle and senior management Emirati employees across government and semi-government entities to ensure Dubai’s administrative bodies are prepared for future technological and economic shifts.
Source: Zawya
