Dubai strengthens healthcare leadership through Oxford-backed programme

The first cohort of the Dubai Health Leadership Academy’s flagship Systems Leadership Programme has graduated, with 40 participants receiving their certificates at a ceremony held at the Museum of the Future.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Health Board of Directors, along with His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board, attended the event to congratulate the graduates.

The programme was delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School.

Sheikh Ahmed highlighted the importance of investing in leadership to strengthen and advance the healthcare sector. He said Dubai is focused on developing leaders who can manage rapid change and turn it into opportunities for innovation and growth in healthcare.

Sheikh Mansoor said building future-ready leaders remains central to creating a sustainable, knowledge-driven health system, informed by global best practices.

Senior health officials and board members also attended the ceremony, alongside representatives from Oxford Saïd Business School.

Dubai Health Authority's Director General Dr. Alawi Alsheikh-Ali described the programme as a catalyst for transformation, saying it equips leaders to navigate complexity while strengthening a resilient, people-centred health system.

Dubai Health's CEO Dr. Amer Sharif said the academy was designed to prepare leaders for a health system as dynamic as Dubai, adding that graduates are now ready to apply their knowledge across the wider health sector.

Launched in September 2024, the Dubai Health Leadership Academy’s Systems Leadership Programme spans 14 months and combines academic learning, executive coaching and practical application, with the aim of developing leaders capable of shaping the future of healthcare in Dubai.

Ahmed bin Saeed and Mansoor bin Mohammed attend the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the Dubai Health Leadership Academy’s flagship Systems Leadership Program. Delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, the Program celebrated the… pic.twitter.com/Qiu1zPal6K

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 23, 2026