Dubai: Dubai is all set to launch its plan for 2021 that aims to ensure sustainability of Dubai’s successes following the conclusion of a series of creativity lab sessions by the General Secretariat of the Dubai Executive Council.
The creativity lab sessions came in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who instructed all federal government bodies in December 2013 to adopt the “Government Creativity Lab” experiment as an official and standardised practice which aims to develop government services, overcome practical challenges and enhance performance and competency of government administrative procedures.
The creative lab workshops were attended by an elite group of experts and specialists from various government, semi-government and private bodies in different disciplines and fields, who engaged in creativity lab workshops for four consecutive days, to come up with the best possible outputs in preparation for the launch of Dubai Plan 2021.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, inspected creativity labs yesterday (Sunday).
He was accompanied by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Higher Committee for Protection of the Rights of People with Disabilities, Shaikha Latifa Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Dubai Culture, and a number of directors-general and officials from the public and private sector.
Abdullah Al Shaibani, Secretary-General of Dubai Executive Council, stressed the importance of the outputs of Creativity Labs. “Our wise leadership advised us to listen to people and consider their various issues so that we can achieve our goal to make them happy and satisfied,” Al Shaibani said.
During the laboratory labs, the work team of the council’s General Secretariat will provide all the possible means that help create a fertile environment for creativity and ensure a better future for Dubai.
“We will discuss all the suggestions made by the experts during the four-day lab meetings. The suggestions and ideas will be examined, developed and adapted to the Dubai Plan 2021, Al Shaibani said.
During the first couple of days, the participants were divided into nine groups who engaged in brainstorming sessions that covered vital issues such as security and justice, sustainable government, tomorrow’s builders, sustainable urban environment, sustainable resources for future generations, openness and interdependence, Dubai’s financial position, cohesive society, and the favourite destination for investment.
In the last two days, the sessions involved a new elite group of experts and decision makers who discussed other vital topics. The sessions revolved around issues such as one government, promising minds, permanent health, sustainable development, sustainable economy, smooth transport, vibrant city, integrated individuals, empowering Emiratis and entrepreneurship.
After the brainstorming sessions, decision takers and senior officials will meet to approve the agreed ideas and solutions and draft those outcomes in a final and applicable plan.
The Creativity Lab approach was approved by Shaikh Mohammad in late 2013. Government creativity labs compromise specialised workshops that discuss current reality of any challenge initiating from a scientific approach that looks objectively into statistics and facts followed by brainstorming sessions to produce original and unconventional solutions.
The lab may proceed for several days until all parties completely agree on the solutions and responsibilities to go into the execution phase. This procedure will increase the speed of government response for any changes or practical challenges and bypass the full cycle of the strategic and operational plans.
