Capacity Building

PRESS RELEASE

Inspiring Talent, Driving Change: MEA Future Leaders Challenge 2025 Builds Bridges Between Talent and Industry 

Pictured: (Left) The 2025 Middle East and Africa (MEA) Future Leaders Challenge (FLC) finals in Dubai. (Right) The Winners and Jury from the MEA FLC Finals

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – January 24, 2025 – The finals of the Middle East and

Africa (MEA) Future Leaders Challenge (FLC) platform concluded today at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, marking a pivotal step forward for the region’s hospitality and tourism industries.

Over three days, the MEA Future Leaders Challenge (FLC) brought together 95 top-performing students from 23 schools across 13 countries in the Middle East and Africa, alongside more than 80 school directors, industry leaders, policymakers, and UAE government representatives. The students showcased innovative solutions to a specific pointed challenge the industry determined, contributing to the development of the industry.

As the fastest-growing hospitality and tourism region globally, the MEA market is projected to create a minimum of 1.3 million jobs in the next five years. However, the current talent pool coming from the educators is estimated to meet only 16–22% of these roles. Alignment on the human capital plan between governments, industry leaders and academic institutions, plays a pivotal role in creating a sustainable workforce for the industry. By uniting these key stakeholders, the initiative aims to develop a comprehensive human capital strategy to ensure the region’s workforce is prepared to meet the demands of this rapid growth.

Hubert Ummels, Founder of the MEA FLC, shared, “This event is about achieving alignment between the industry’s evolving needs and the next generation’s voice being heard. By fostering collaboration among leading stakeholders, we aim to pave the way for a hospitality

and tourism sector that thrives on innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.”

Marvy Rieder, FLC Director, echoed, “The commitment and creativity shown by the students have been extraordinary. It’s inspiring to see these young professionals rise to the challenge and deliver ideas that resonate deeply with the industry’s and their own needs.”

Inaugural SDA Summit: A Unified Approach to Human Capital Development

Pictured: The Inaugural School Directors’ Alliance at the MEA FLC 2025 in Dubai

 

A key highlight was the first-ever School Directors’ Alliance (SDA) Summit, convening over 80 school directors, industry leaders and policymakers to collaborate on a comprehensive human capital strategy for the region. Interactive panels, featuring global and pan-regional C-level executives from top hospitality and tourism partners, tackled critical topics such as aligning academic programs with future industry needs and sharing visions on the human capital plan for the region.

Jeff Strachan, Business Development Director at the Dubai College of Tourism and Board Member of the School Directors’ Alliance, emphasised, “Today marks the start of a transformative journey. The intent is clear from all sides, with a phenomenal turnout of schools and industry leaders at the highest level. We’ve built a strong platform for efficient and effective collaboration, which is critical to addressing the challenges of today’s fast-evolving hospitality and tourism landscape.

 

A Collective Vision for the Future

Pictured: Esteemed partners for the MEA FLC 2025 in Dubai

The FLC’s success reflects the commitment of its partners, including Hilton, Accor, Radisson

Hotel Group, Emaar Hospitality, NHL Stenden, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Vision Linens and GameChangers. Their support underscores a shared dedication to addressing skill gaps, fostering talent, and ensuring the MEA region remains at the forefront of hospitality and tourism innovation.

The journey continues as the MEA FLC’s impact extends beyond Dubai, with upcoming national editions scheduled for East Africa (April 28–29), South Africa (May 5–6), and Morocco (June 2–3, 2025). These events will provide participants with practical opportunities to showcase their talents, forge meaningful industry connections, and address pressing challenges within the hospitality and tourism sector.

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About the MEA Future Leaders Challenge

The MEA FLC is a transformative platform designed to foster collaboration and innovation in the hospitality and tourism industry across the MEA region. By connecting students, educators, industry leaders, policymakers and government representatives, it aims to elevate educational standards, enhance talent development, and drive sustainable growth within the sector. www.meafutureleaderschallenge.com

Media Contacts: Mike Richters mrichters@kingscom.com

Anna Aye aaye@kingscom.com