Job description

About Dubai Future Foundation:

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) was established in 2016 to institutionalize future-shaping for Dubai and strengthen the city’s position as a leading global city of the future. The Foundation works in partnership with government and private-sector entities to imagine, design and accelerate Dubai’s future. Its work spans five strategic areas: future foresight, knowledge dissemination, capacity building, future design and future acceleration. At the heart of DFF’s mandate is turning future-focused ideas and opportunities into tangible outcomes. The Foundation embraces risk-taking, agility and foresight as key attributes in navigating emerging opportunities and challenges. DFF is guided by a core belief that leading in the present is not enough; the future must be actively imagined, designed and executed.

POSITION: TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS ANALYST

LIFE AT DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) aims to realize the wise vision of Dubai’s leadership to institutionalize the envisioned future and forward-thinking methodologies, while positioning Dubai as the leading city of the future.

In partnership with its local and global partners from governments, companies, startups, and entrepreneurs, DFF drives joint efforts to collectively imagine, design, and execute the best possible future for humanity.

Under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, the DFF runs and oversees many futureproofing projects and initiatives, such as the Museum of the Future, Area 2071, The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution UAE, Dubai Future Accelerators, One Million Arab Coders, Dubai Future Academy, Dubai Future Solutions, Dubai Future Labs, Dubai Future Forum, etc.

DFF’s efforts to share knowledge, adopt innovation, support entrepreneurs and innovative startups, build capacity, and promote forward-thinking and foresight principles contribute to Dubai’s ambitions to be a role model for the cities of the future through the power of unlimited imagination, innovation, foresight and disruptive mindset.

For more information on the initiatives, projects, and programs of Dubai Future Foundation, please visit the website: www.dubaifuture.ae

LIFE AT RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION (RDI)

Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) is Dubai Future Foundation’s dedicated research arm, established to advance applied and frontier research that directly shapes Dubai’s innovation agenda.

RDI will house multiple specialised research centers, each focused on distinct domains, creating a collaborative ecosystem where deep expertise converges to address the most complex challenges facing cities and societies of the future.

Through strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions, global think tanks, and government entities, RDI translates emerging knowledge into actionable insights, policy recommendations, and real-world impact at a local, regional, and global scale.

WHERE DOES THIS ROLE FIT INTO THE BIGGER PICTURE?

This role bridges the gap between business needs and technology delivery, working hand-in-hand with the Head of Technology to translate strategic objectives into actionable system and process requirements.

It is essential to ensuring that digital platforms, research tools, and innovation initiatives are designed around real user needs and organisational priorities.

BUSINESS ANALYST

As the Business Analyst, you will work closely with the Head of Technology and cross-functional teams to gather, analyse, and document business and system requirements that drive the development and optimization of technology solutions.

You will serve as the critical link between stakeholders and technical teams, ensuring that digital initiatives are aligned with RDI’s research, development, and innovation strategy.

The Business Analyst will support the delivery of IT and data platforms by translating complex business challenges into clear functional specifications, process models, and system design recommendations.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS ANALYSIS

• Collaborate closely with the Head of Technology to define and deliver technology solutions that support the research, development and innovation program strategy.

• Discover, document, and validate business and functional requirements from stakeholders across departments, ensuring clarity and alignment before development begins.

• Perform system analysis to assess current-state processes and systems, identifying gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.

• Produce detailed business requirements documents (BRDs), functional specifications, user stories, process flow diagrams, and use cases.

• Support the delivery of digital projects such as the Trusted Research Environment (TRE), collaboration portals, CRM systems, IP management platforms, ERP systems, and other technology solutions.

• Explore and evaluate the application of agentic AI systems and data-driven tools to enhance research workflows, automate routine processes, and unlock new analytical capabilities across RDI’s platforms.

• Manage requirements backlogs within infrastructure projects, including Azure, ensuring traceability from business need to technical delivery.

USER ACCEPTANCE TESTING AND DELIVERY

• Conduct user acceptance testing (UAT), coordinate with end users, and validate that delivered solutions meet defined requirements.

• Support data analysis and reporting needs, working with internal teams and external research partners, including academic institutions, global think tanks, and government entities, to define data structures, dashboards, and reporting frameworks.

• Operate comfortably within RDI’s diverse partner ecosystem and support the alignment of technology and data requirements across stakeholders.

VENDOR AND SOLUTION EVALUATION

• Assist in the evaluation of third-party vendors and platforms by documenting technical requirements and participating in RFP and assessment processes.

• Stay current on emerging technologies and best practices in business analysis, recommending process and system improvements to enable research excellence.

CHANGE MANAGEMENT AND ADOPTION

• Produce user guides, training materials, and SOPs to support adoption of new systems and processes across teams.

• Support organisational change management as new systems, platforms, and processes are introduced across RDI, including stakeholder communication, training coordination, adoption tracking, and feedback collection to ensure smooth transitions.

WHY THIS ROLE IS IMPORTANT?

This role is central to ensuring that technology investments deliver real business value.

By bridging stakeholder needs and IT delivery, the Business Analyst enables faster, more effective deployment of digital solutions that power RDI’s innovation and research agenda.

WHAT DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION OFFERS?

We will offer you a unique opportunity to work with people who are passionate about the future and establishing Dubai as one of the leading cities of the world.

You will have the chance to work on exciting and new projects, work in a highly diverse and fast-paced environment that fosters creativity, disruptive ideas, and innovation.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR?

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• You will have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.

• You will have a minimum of 5 years of experience in business analysis, with demonstrated ability to work on complex IT or digital transformation projects.

• You will have experience working closely with IT teams and managers, translating technical concepts for business audiences and vice versa.

• Experience in a startup, greenfield, or newly established organisational environment, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and help shape processes from the ground up, is a strong plus.

TECHNICAL AND FUNCTIONAL SKILLS

• You will have proficiency in Agile methodologies with hands-on experience in backlog management and requirements tracking.

• You will have strong skills in process modelling, requirements documentation, and use case development using relevant tools. BPMN 2.0 notation knowledge is a plus.

• You will have experience with systems analysis, including current-state assessment, gap analysis, and solution design. Prior experience as a Systems Analyst is a strong plus.

• You will have familiarity with enterprise platforms such as CRM systems, ERP systems, collaboration portals, or research data environments.

• You will have familiarity with agentic AI concepts and data-related technologies, including experience working with structured and unstructured datasets, data pipelines, or AI-assisted analytics tools, with an appreciation for their responsible and compliant application in a research environment.

• You will have an understanding of data governance, cybersecurity compliance, and regulatory frameworks such as UAE PDPL is advantageous.

• You will have a proven track record of conducting UAT, managing stakeholder feedback, and driving solutions to successful delivery.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Change management fundamentals or certification, such as Prosci, is a valued plus.

• Proficiency in Arabic is a plus.