Dubai Launches Succession Planning System for Government Employees

The Emirati government has recently implemented the Succession Planning System in Dubai, where the principle activity is to develop competent individuals, particularly those employees with outstanding performance, for the top governmental positions in the departments. The recent measures to boost risk management within corporations approved by the Crown Prince of Dubai and the head of the Executive Council of the city, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, are the parts of the overall plan to support the continuity of Dubai businesses.

The Succession Planning System has been adopted by the Dubai government under the Executive Council Resolution No. (81) of 2024, which applies to the new program’s implementation except for temporary, special contract, seconded employees, and retirees. The DGHR will be responsible for the coordination of developing and approving processes, time lines, and templates to ensure the proper implementation of this strategy.

Under the resolution, every governmental department can recommend employees for succession planning which has to correspond to strategic and operational needs and conform to Emiratisation rules. The employees nominated will be trained and developed, with the DGHR to supervise to ensure conformity across the different arms of government.

DGHR is expected to scrutinize the provisions of the succession system and recommend changes therein and there on as may be deemed necessary to submit for approval. Also, for a certain period of time, the department will supervise each entities’ performance concerning the new system to verify that it causes a desired impact in the council.

Dubai has responded by setting up this system, which has been in force since the Official Gazette was released as a means of developing a stable and capable government work force roadmap and for the emirate’s long-term public sector leadership and operational continuity and readiness.