Aiming to provide training in public management and leadership development to Harvard Kennedy School students from the United Arab Emirates and broader Arab region, the Emirates Leadership Initiative (ELI) Fellowship equips students with the tools to be a powerful force for change in an evolving global arena. Fellowship recipients receive financial support toward a master’s degree at HKS, comprehensive co-curricular programming, and access to a network of exceptional peers and mentors.
Originally from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ELI Fellow Dhuha Fadhel MC/MPA 2026 was raised in a family that instilled in her a deep commitment to public service. Prior to HKS, she worked in economic research and policy, both in the UAE and with multilateral organizations, focusing on how to address development gaps and enhance business environments.
Learn more about her fellowship experience in the Q&A below.
What was your experience applying for the Emirates Leadership Initiative (ELI) Fellowship?
Before I submitted the fellowship application, I spoke with past ELI fellows. They all said the fellowship was transformative—not just professionally, but personally, too.
During the application process, the essay prompts pushed me to reflect on my experiences rather than simply list my achievements. The interview with Senior Program Manager Saida Abdalla and the panel felt more like a real conversation than an evaluation. There was a sincerity to the whole experience, and the wait for Saida’s call afterward was a kind of anticipation I will never forget.
What have you learned during your time as an ELI fellow?
Two ideas stand out when I think about what I have learned:
- Community. It’s been amazing to discover what is possible when a group of people genuinely trust each other enough to share not just their ambitions, but their doubts and disappointments. There’s a kind of learning that only happens in that cone of safety, and I hadn’t experienced it so deliberately before.
- Being intentional about education. Revisiting my learning plan throughout the year forced me to ask an uncomfortable question: “Am I actually growing, or just moving?” Structured reflection is a habit I’ll be taking with me into future roles and experiences.
“It’s been amazing to discover what is possible when a group of people genuinely trust each other enough to share not just their ambitions, but their doubts and disappointments.”
What has been your favorite part of the fellowship?
- The Fall Retreat at Jiminy Peak: On the retreat, Professor Ron Heifetz said, “Growth sometimes means ‘trimming’ parts of yourself without losing your core.” Hearing that at the very beginning of the academic year felt like being handed a compass for the whole year.
- The AI Policy Trek to San Francisco: I helped organize this trip, and it was a highlight of my time at HKS. We had the opportunity to meet teams across various tech companies, including Google, OpenAI, Scale AI, and Microsoft. What struck me the most wasn’t the tech, but the uncertainty in the room. I witnessed smart people wrestling with hard questions about risk and responsibility, which shaped how I want to engage with tech policy in my career.
What advice would you give to applicants considering applying for the fellowship?
- Go in open—not just open-minded, but also open to being genuinely changed by the experience.
- Invest in your peers as much as the curriculum. Some of my best conversations happened over meals, not in classrooms.
- Be honest about your priorities. Writing down goals is easy, but returning to them and asking, “Am I living up to this?” is where the real growth happens.
- Remember why you’re applying. For me, it was to become someone who serves others more effectively. Stay anchored to your ‘why,’ and everything else will fall into place.
Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellowship
The fellowship equips students with the tools to be a powerful force for change in an evolving global arena.
