Abu Dhabi to train 20,000 frontline staff to boost emergency preparedness and crisis response

The Government of Abu Dhabi has announced a major strategic initiative to train 20,000 frontline personnel across healthcare, ambulance, security, and other critical emergency response sectors, backed by an annual budget exceeding Dh100 million.

The announcement was made during the opening of the National Emergency Response Forum “Istijaba,” organised by the UAE National Program for Preparedness and Response “Jahezia.” The initiative forms part of a broader national strategy to strengthen emergency preparedness, crisis response capabilities, and institutional coordination across the UAE.

The training programme will be delivered through a unified, integrated, and internationally accredited framework covering both healthcare and non-healthcare frontline workers involved in major incident and emergency response.

The programme includes theoretical training, simulation exercises, and multi-agency emergency response scenarios designed to improve coordination and operational efficiency during crises.

As part of the initiative, the Istijaba forum will be held across multiple emirates throughout the week, starting in Abu Dhabi, followed by Ajman and Fujairah, and concluding in Dubai. The multi-emirate format aims to strengthen institutional integration, unify national emergency response concepts, and align the country’s crisis management systems with global best practices.

Officials said the programme has been developed in partnership with leading international universities and training centres in the United States and Europe, ensuring global accreditation and the development of certified trainers to sustain long-term training efforts.

Experts participating in the forum noted that the UAE’s emergency preparedness framework is emerging as a global model for institutional integration, capacity building, and standardised national training systems.

The initiative also reflects the UAE’s broader strategy to invest in human capital, advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, and integrated national systems to enhance readiness for future crises and emergencies.