Dubai Airports' learning at Work Week building a future-ready workforce, one session at a time

Zawya

12-05-2025

Unpacking the future of travel with Dubai Airports, DCTCM leaders, and futurist and author, Thomas Koulopoulos on the 'giga trends' shaping how we will work
Over 35 speakers, 20 dynamic sessions, and 1000 employees at Dubai Airports' largest Learning Week yet
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai Airports, the operator of the world's busiest international airport, Dubai International (DXB), and Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International (DWC), is marking Learning at Work Week 2025 with a series of interactive sessions, workshops, and thought-leadership engagements under the theme 'Connect to Our Future'. The initiative reinforces Dubai Airports' commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and empowering its workforce to shape the future of aviation.
This year's event, running from 12 – 16 May in alignment with the Global Learning at Work Week, brings together industry experts, guest speakers, and employees from across the organisation to exchange insights and explore the evolving landscape of the travel industry. With over 35 industry experts and thought-leaders, 20 dynamic sessions, and 1000 employees participating, this year's Learning Week is Dubai Airports' largest to date.
A key highlight of the week is a fireside chat with Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, and Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), as they discuss the evolving guest experience and the power of collaboration in positioning Dubai as a leading global hub. Futurist and author, Thomas Koulopoulos, a professor at Boston University, will also share his perspectives on the future of community and connectivity, with a focus on the 'giga trends' shaping how we will work, live, and play in the years to come.
Meshari Al Bannai, Chief People Officer of Dubai Airports, said: 'Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and Learning at Work Week reflects our commitment to nurturing a culture of growth, curiosity, and continuous development. By investing in our talent and creating meaningful learning opportunities, we aim to empower our people and reinforce our position as an employer of choice.'
He added: ' This year's Learning Week has been carefully designed to directly connect our people with essential skills, insights, and conversations that are relevant to their professional growth and the future of our industry.'
The week-long programme features immersive learning experiences and expert-led sessions, highlighting forward-looking development perspectives from leading organisations including Cranfield University, Emirates, Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET), Gallup, among others. Structured around three core pillars: Inspire, Grow, and Share, the programme is designed to empower employees through thought leadership, future-ready skills, and cross-functional collaboration.
Dubai Airports' ongoing development initiatives include the Open Learning Hub, a digital platform offering over 5,000 on-demand courses, and a calendar of more than 300 annual training programmes covering leadership, digital transformation, accessibility, wellbeing, and other areas.
Earlier this year, Dubai Airports received the 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for its employee engagement strategies. The Learning Experience team was also honoured with the prestigious Brilliance in Learning and Development Award at the HR Brilliance Awards, recognising the impact and success of last year's Learning at Work Week.
About Dubai Airports
Dubai Airports operates both of Dubai's airports, Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC).
As an integrator, Dubai Airports works to balance the interests of all stakeholders to maintain aviation growth, protect operational resilience and ensure that service providers collaborate to provide a safe and secure service and improve customer experience whilst maintaining a sustainable business.
In 2024, DXB welcomed a total of 92.3 million guests, the highest annual traffic in its history.
DWC embodies Dubai's vision for the future of aviation. With expansion plans announced in May 2024, involving a record investment of US$35b, DWC aims to reshape the aviation landscape.
Over the next decade, DWC will accommodate 150m passengers annually, eventually expanding to 260m passengers and 12m tonnes of cargo.
With five runways, futuristic design and seamless intermodal connectivity, DWC aims to revolutionise global air travel, setting new standards for efficiency and passenger experience for the next 50 years.