Emaar Development, the property development business of Emaar Properties, has commissioned a special executive education custom programme by Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design on Dubai Creek Harbour: The Happy City.

Through four Harvard Executive Education programmes, Emaar aims to put the 6-sq-km mega-development as well as the nation on the global map.

Led by international experts, the first programme held recently, focused on concepts, tools, frameworks and best practice cases to coach the participants through group exercises to design and build a Happiness Index that will enhance the value of Dubai Creek Harbour, said a statement from Emaar.

Emaar Development’s senior management, development team and special invitees, including stakeholders associated with the mega development, attended the first session, it added.

Developed as a joint venture with Dubai Holding, Dubai Creek Harbour represents the next frontier in contemporary life, work and play.

It is only 10 minutes from the Dubai International Airport and located by the Dubai Creek. It overlooks the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, which is protected under the Unesco Ramsar Convention and is home to over 67 species of water birds.

Emaar Development CEO Chris O’Donnell said: "As the city of the future, Dubai Creek Harbour is setting new milestones and benchmarks in urban development."

"Through our collaboration with Harvard University Graduate School of Design, we aim to build a smarter, healthier, greener and more aesthetic development that promotes the genuine happiness and wellbeing of our residents," he noted.

According to him, the Harvard University Executive Education programmes will coach participants to design specific guidelines to make the spaces in Dubai Creek Harbour happier for residents in tangible ways, and generate a framework of strategies to promote their sense of belonging.

Following the first session, internal needs and feedback are being assessed and integrated for the subsequent sessions in 2018 and 2019, he added.

The programmes are led by Rick Huijbregts, instructor at Harvard University GSD Executive Education; Miguel  Martins, the global lead - Innovation & Sustainability in the Knowledge, Learning & Innovation Office of the International Finance Corporation; Omran Hayat, a partner at Al Mehan Holding Company; and Rena Fonseca, the director of Executive Education and International Programmes at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.-TradeArabia News Service