Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid is the Director General of the Community Development Authority (CDA), Government of Dubai and a Member of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai. Additionally, Her Excellency is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Community Contributions Establishment (Jood).

Prior to her current appointments, Her Excellency served as the Minister of Community Development from October 2017 to February 2023, where she worked on improving and advancing the social development of all the members of the community: families, children, adolescents, youth, senior citizens, and people of determination. Her Excellency is a strong believer in partnerships between the public sector, private sector, and third sector to promote community development and sustain active engagement in communal work.

Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid is a graduate of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Young Leadership Program and a two-time recipient of Sheikh Rashid Award for Scientific Excellence. Additionally, she won the Arabian Gulf National Olympic Committee Award for Outstanding Youth in 2013 and the “Best Distinguished Newly Appointed Employee” at Dubai Government Excellence Program in 2003.

Her Excellency holds a Master of Business Administration (with Distinction) from the American University of Sharjah and a Bachelor of Business Sciences (with Highest Distinction) from Zayed University. She also holds an Executive Diploma in Public Administration from Lee Kuwan Yew School of Public Policy from the National University of Singapore.