Dubai Municipality has launched its first knowledge exchange programme sending young Emirati engineers and specialists to Seoul, South Korea, aimed at building national talent for the future of municipal work.
The five-month programme mixes academic study, applied research and field learning, giving participants exposure to South Korea's urban development practices with an eye toward adapting useful approaches back to Dubai.
It runs on two tracks. The first, delivered with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) under an existing cooperation agreement, focuses on applied solutions in urban planning, infrastructure management and smart urban systems. The second puts participants in the field across Seoul and Incheon, visiting institutions covering urban planning, smart cities, waste management, sustainability, design and engineering, and disaster management — including the Seoul Upcycling Plaza, the Seoul AI Smart City Center, Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Songdo International Business District.
The programme centres on three areas: sustainable urban development and regeneration (including beautification, agriculture and infrastructure planning), integrated waste management (recycling and circular-economy systems), and disaster management (urban resilience and tech-enabled emergency response).
Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said the programme is a direct investment in Emirati capabilities, giving young engineers access to international expertise they can apply to real solutions for Dubai. He added that the goal is turning knowledge exchange into tangible city-management value, and that the KAIST partnership reflects the Municipality's push to link research and innovation with practical application.
By the end of the programme, participants will have developed studies and applied solutions targeting Dubai Municipality's priority areas, presented as proposals with potential for future implementation. The initiative is part of the Municipality's broader effort to build the technical and professional capabilities needed for Dubai's continued urban development.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
