GDRFA and MBRSG Highlight Projects Transforming Policy Design and Public Services
Dubai: GDRFA and MBRSG Celebrate First ‘Nudgeathon’ Cohort
The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), marked the graduation of the inaugural “GDRFA Dubai Nudgeathon” cohort. The innovative programme applies behavioural insights and design thinking to enhance government services and policymaking.
The initiative underscores GDRFA Dubai’s commitment to innovation, professionalism, and improving quality of life through human-centred, proactive government solutions.
The graduation ceremony was attended by Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, and Mohammed Al Khatib, Senior Director of Corporate Support Service at MBRSG, along with senior officials from both organisations.
During the event, participants showcased the outcomes of a 100-day challenge that engaged 51 employees and resulted in 10 qualitative projects rooted in behavioural science principles. These projects addressed real operational challenges and demonstrated new approaches to designing flexible and proactive government services.
An accompanying exhibition allowed attendees to explore the projects in detail, showcasing the applied methodologies and their anticipated impact on customer experience and service efficiency.
Outstanding teams were also recognised during the ceremony for their contributions, reinforcing a culture of teamwork, appreciation, and institutional belonging, while promoting a positive and innovation-driven work environment.
GDRFA Dubai stated that the Nudgeathon programme aligns with its vision of building a flexible, forward-looking government ecosystem grounded in understanding human behaviour. The initiative aims to enhance customer experience, strengthen community safety and security, and support integrated services that bolster Dubai’s global competitiveness.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri said the programme went beyond traditional training. “The GDRFA Dubai Nudgeathon was not merely a training programme, but a practical experience that redefined how government services can be designed to be closer to people and more impactful in their daily lives,” he explained. “True innovation begins with understanding human behaviour, and investing in national talent is key to delivering smarter services and improving quality of life for both the community and our employees.”
He added that the initiative highlighted the capability of national talent to develop secure and seamless digital solutions that strengthen governance, improve resource efficiency, and support long-term sustainability.
Mohammed Al Khatib, Senior Director of Corporate Support Service at MBRSG, described the programme as a significant step in integrating behavioural sciences into government operations, enhancing decision-making, policy design, and service delivery through evidence-based approaches.
He emphasized that the programme places people at the centre of development while enhancing government performance and addressing evolving community needs, in line with the UAE leadership’s vision for a flexible, proactive, and sustainable government.
Al Khatib added that the programme’s multidisciplinary framework enabled participants to transform ideas into practical solutions with lasting institutional impact. He noted that the partnership between GDRFA Dubai and MBRSG serves as a successful model for bridging academic knowledge with government application.
The initiative is part of GDRFA Dubai’s broader strategy to enhance quality of life and employee wellbeing, strengthen institutional governance, improve operational efficiency, and develop innovative, future-ready services that keep people at the heart of government development.
