Dubai leadership research to reach students via new MoUs

Two memoranda of understanding signed between the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) and Seoul National University and Peking University will carry Dubai’s leadership experience into classrooms and executive programmes read by tens of thousands of students and public servants worldwide.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), witnessed the signing. The agreements launch a new series of Dubai Leadership Research inspired by the leadership and management experience of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The practical reach is considerable. The MoUs integrate the Dubai case study into MBA and executive education programmes at both universities, giving hundreds of students and executive leaders in each cohort direct access to the material. Dubai Leadership Research will also be published through The Case Centre, reaching more than 500 business schools in over 90 countries and benefiting tens of thousands of students and leaders annually. Harvard Business Review, with more than 10 million readers, will carry the research as well, extending its impact among practitioners, consultants and thought leaders globally.

The signing took place during the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum, the premier annual gathering dedicated to management and leadership, organised by MBRCLD. The Forum brought together 1,000 senior figures from Dubai’s government and private sectors to discuss the future transformation of management and leadership, establish best practices in both fields, and advance the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to strengthen Dubai’s global standing as a centre of excellence and innovation.

The series is designed for MBA and executive education programmes and intended as a global reference in inspirational leadership and decision-making. It will be featured at conferences, workshops and academic platforms, positioning the leadership experience of His Highness as a model studied by institutions across the East and West.

His Excellency Saeed Al Eter, Director General of The Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, signed the two MoUs on behalf of MBRCLD. Signing for the partner universities were Professor Jun-Ki Kim, Executive Vice President of Seoul National University and Professor at its Graduate School of Public Administration, and Professor Young Joon Park, Associate Dean of Peking University HSBC Business School.

According to the announcement, the agreements will enrich leadership curricula in the UAE, inspire future leaders locally and globally, and consolidate Dubai’s position as a global centre for leadership philosophy. They will also document the legacy of His Highness in creativity, governance and future foresight through internationally recognised educational platforms.

His Excellency Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of The Executive Office and Chairman of MBRCLD, affirmed that Dubai has become a unique global model of comprehensive development and institutional work founded on innovation, the courage to take initiative and decisive decision-making. This reflects the vision of His Highness and his directives to launch strategic plans that place people at the forefront of priorities, an approach that has made his leadership philosophy a global reference in sustainable development.

“Today, Dubai is at the centre of global attention, and its development and cultural experience has become a shining example of how creative ideas can be transformed into tangible reality through determination and the ability to cultivate ambitious leaders equipped to realise Dubai’s long-term visions through unconventional approaches,” Al Gergawi said. He noted that the research series aligns with MBRCLD’s mission to advance leadership thought, enhance the future readiness of institutions and consolidate the UAE’s leadership across key sectors.

Professor Jun-Ki Kim described the MoU as a significant step in strengthening cooperation between Seoul National University and MBRCLD, bringing together the expertise of both institutions in leadership and innovation. “Through this collaboration, we look forward to developing models and practices that contribute to enhancing the efficiency of government operations and strengthening their ability to keep pace with global transformations and respond to evolving challenges with more effective solutions,” he said. He added that the partnership supports development efforts and aligns with national ambitions to enhance people’s quality of life.

Professor Young Joon Park said the collaboration is an extension of a growing relationship between two institutions that recognise the role of knowledge and innovation in supporting growth and developing leaders. “Through this partnership, we seek to exchange expertise and develop specialised initiatives that serve business leaders in the UAE and China, while extending the benefits of these experiences to leaders and institutions around the world,” he said. He added that the partnership offers an opportunity to draw on diverse experiences in developing business environments, supporting leadership capabilities better prepared to seize opportunities and address the challenges posed by the rapidly changing global economy.

Seoul National University, established in 1946, is South Korea’s leading national university, recognised internationally for academic excellence and decades-long contributions to national development and public sector leadership. Its Graduate School of Public Administration ranks eighth globally in Social Policy and Administration in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, and the university has prepared successive generations of leaders in government, diplomacy, academia, science and industry, playing a pivotal role in South Korea’s transformation into one of the world’s leading economies.

Peking University, founded in 1898 as China’s first comprehensive national university, is one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious institutions. Its HSBC Business School, established in Shenzhen in 2004, offers doctoral degrees, specialised master’s programmes, MBA and EMBA degrees, and executive education, combining a global perspective with an in-depth understanding of China’s economy and business environment.

How the Dubai case study is received in classrooms from Seoul to Beijing, and whether it becomes a fixture of global leadership curricula, will be watched closely in the years ahead.