Abu Dhabi’s Department of Government Enablement has launched an AI-integrated leadership programme designed to sharpen how senior officials design, implement and evaluate policy across the emirate’s public sector. Developed in partnership with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, the initiative targets Executive Directors and equivalent leaders who carry direct responsibility for policy development, implementation and oversight.
The programme reflects a deliberate institutional commitment to improving government performance through investment at the executive level. By equipping senior officials with advanced policy skills, it is intended to support stronger decision-making, more effective implementation, better evaluation mechanisms and greater coordination across government agencies. Those improvements, according to the programme’s design, should translate into measurable outcomes for citizens, residents and businesses across Abu Dhabi.
His Excellency Dr Yasir Al Naqbi, Director General of GovAcademy at the Department of Government Enablement, framed the initiative as central to the emirate’s governance strategy. “Our people are at the centre of government excellence,” he said. “This programme reflects our commitment to investing in government leaders and empowering them to develop more effective and responsive policies, improving the quality of people-centred government services and strengthening public sector performance across Abu Dhabi.”
The curriculum addresses practical governance challenges that senior officials encounter in their roles. Participants will develop skills in identifying policy problems, selecting appropriate instruments, resolving implementation obstacles, engaging stakeholders and applying international best practices in ways that align with Abu Dhabi’s strategic priorities. The training incorporates artificial intelligence applications in government transformation alongside conventional policy analysis and evaluation methods.
A key component is an intensive module conducted in Singapore, providing participants with international exposure and applied learning. That segment includes workshops, learning journeys, group projects, lectures and sessions with external speakers. Content spans impact assessment, behavioural insights, policy communication, monitoring and evaluation, transformational governance approaches, Singapore’s Smart Nation framework and the use of artificial intelligence in government modernisation.
The programme places particular emphasis on anticipatory governance, enabling leaders to identify emerging challenges early and strengthen collaboration across agencies. This approach supports Abu Dhabi’s stated objective of building a government ecosystem capable of anticipating future needs through agile, evidence-based policy development and service delivery.
Dr Al Naqbi was direct about the institutional ambition behind the effort. “Through this pioneering programme, we aim to enhance government performance by building the skills, systems and capabilities needed for the future. It will equip leaders to turn strategy into action and measurable outcomes while advancing a connected, future-ready government ecosystem,” he said.
The launch reinforces the Department of Government Enablement’s broader mandate to foster continuous professional development across Abu Dhabi’s public institutions. The partnership with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (described by the department as a world-leading policy institute) brings established international frameworks to the training delivery. Whether the programme’s emphasis on anticipatory governance produces the cross-agency coordination it promises will be the measure officials and oversight bodies will watch most closely.