Manchester Business School ’s World Academy of Sport today announced an agreement with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development (MBRPLD) to provide several educational modules for a key sports leadership initiative in Dubai. The new programme, which aims to develop world class sports leadership skills is a joint initiative between MBRPLD and the Dubai Sports Council. The programme is part of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 which aims to develop sports leaders and managers of international standard under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.

The Hamdan bin Mohammed Programme for Sport Leadership Development (HBMPSLD) will include the latest principles and techniques in sport management covering areas such as effective communication, community building, sports in Dubai and the UAE, Dubai sports strategy, project finance, cross sector support, master planning, role of the government, leading change management, international sports structure, strategic management of sport and organisational design. The World Academy of Sport will deliver several of these modules on behalf of the programme via its world-leading academics and team of industry experts.

Mr Adel Al Shared, Director of MBRPLD, said: “The HBMPSLD is a comprehensive sport leadership programme that is designed to create sports leaders of international repute. The programme combines the various elements of management, leadership, sport and communication that are required to provide a well rounded perspective to future leaders in world sport.”

Speaking about the programme, Mr Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, said: “The launch of this innovative sport leadership programme in Dubai is a reflection of the emirate’s approach to excellence in strategic areas. Building a productive sports society is vital for the all-round development of Dubai leveraging the emirate’s position as one of the prime business, leisure and sports destinations in the world.”

The comprehensive sport leadership programme runs for 18 months in Dubai with modules delivered both by the World Academy of Sport and the MBRPLD. World leading academics and visiting fellows from Manchester Business School , which has its Middle East regional centre based in Dubai , will be used throughout the programme. The World Academy of Sport is a centre of excellence based inside Manchester Business School , which is recognised as one of the premier business schools in the world and since its formation in 1965 has become an internationally recognised centre of excellence for management studies.

Director of the World Academy of Sport, Mr Chris Solly said: “We are excited to be here in Dubai announcing this agreement. The programme developed by the MBRPLD and Dubai Sports Council is visionary and we believe will have very positive outcomes for Dubai , the UAE and the region more broadly. The partners here in Dubai were attracted to the World Academy of Sport because they recognise our internationally focused work and appreciate our approach of integrating business management with sport and events teaching on a local level.”

The programme will commence October 2008 and will be open to eligible UAE nationals.