DUBAI: The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) has launched “GDRFA Dubai’s Nudgeathon,” an innovation-driven program developed in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG). The initiative is the first major project under the newly introduced Dubai Behavioral Insights Lab and is designed to utilize behavioral sciences to strengthen decision-making and improve government services and policies.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior Dubai officials, including Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai; Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MBRSG and Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department; Dr. Ali Bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG; and Major General Obaid Meher Bin Suroor, Deputy Director General of GDRFA Dubai, along with several senior leaders and participants.
In his remarks, Al Marri said the partnership represents a model of collaboration between government and academic institutions, enabling the transformation of challenges into opportunities through behavioral science, design thinking and agile innovation. He said the Nudgeathon reflects GDRFA Dubai’s mission to build a flexible, responsive and human-centered government model.
Al Falasi noted that the Nudgeathon supports Dubai’s long-term vision for building innovative and future-ready government systems. He said the initiative strengthens institutional readiness and empowers national talent to develop evidence-based solutions that enhance the quality of public services.
Dr. Ali Bin Sebaa Al Marri added that the program reinforces MBRSG’s commitment to building government capabilities and transforming ideas into effective practices. He said the partnership bridges applied education with real-world decision-making, strengthening Dubai’s position as a global leader in government innovation.
“GDRFA Dubai’s Nudgeathon” combines specialized training with hands-on application and real government challenges. Participants engage in hybrid workshops—including in-person sessions, virtual modules and field application—working in multidisciplinary teams to design practical, evidence-based solutions.
Designed as a live innovation lab, the Nudgeathon applies behavioral science, design thinking, agile methodologies and AI tools to address institutional challenges. The 100-day program includes 50 days of implementation followed by impact measurement, with teams producing policies and service enhancements backed by data and research.
As the academic partner, MBRSG provides expertise in executive education and leadership development, helping embed scientific, human-centered innovation into Dubai’s governance ecosystem.
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The Nudgeathon will conclude with participants presenting practical projects and solutions for evaluation and potential implementation across Dubai government entities, marking a significant step in GDRFA Dubai’s efforts to advance institutional innovation and deliver future-ready digital services.
