Next-gen supply chain management leaders: redefining resilience and transformation in the UAE

Abstract

The U.S.–China trade war, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Suez Canal blockage, the Russia–Ukraine conflict, Red Sea shipping delays, cybercrime, and climate change have demonstrated that supply chain strategies focused solely on cost optimization and manufacturing flexibility are insufficient. UAE Vision 2031 aims to increase GDP from 1.49 trillion to 3 trillion, non-oil exports to 800 billion, international commerce to 4 trillion, and tourism to 450 billion. The strategy seeks to diversify the economy into technology, banking, tourism, and renewable energy by 2031 to establish a knowledge-based, future-ready economy. To achieve these objectives, supply chain operations must become resilient, integrated, and technologically advanced, supported by leaders capable of spearheading this transformation. This conference paper examines the leadership, strategic, and behavioral skills required to transform the UAE and its supply chains. A qualitative exploratory thematic synthesis was conducted using Scopus- and Web of Science-indexed articles published between 2019 and 2025, UAE government policy reports, and industry white papers. Five fundamental leadership pillars—digital intelligence, collaborative ecosystems, sustainability orientation, crisis forecasting, and learning agility—were identified as essential for enhancing the ten performance criteria of the Integrated Supply Chain Performance Measurement (ISCPM) framework.