Uae News: Abu Dhabi grants Dh100 million to boost emergency readiness under new edition of National First Line of Defense Forum

Abu Dhabi has announced a Dh100 million grant to bolster the training and preparedness of first responders, the emirate revealed as the 26th edition of the National First Line of Defense Forum opened on March 28. Organised by the National Unified and Integrated Training System for Readiness and Response under the supervision of the UAE National Medical and Volunteer Reserve Team, the forum — held under the theme "Together for a Nation’s Readiness." — will fund internationally accredited programmes in emergency management, disaster preparedness and major incident response.

"First-line defense heroes represent the backbone of the national health security. Investing in their training and empowerment is a direct investment in community protection," said Dr. Adel Al Shammari Al Ajmi, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative, President of UAE Doctors Initiative and Head of the National Readiness and Response Program.

Context and programme details

The Dh100 million allocation will underwrite specialised training that is mandatory under national regulatory directives and will be delivered in partnership with international institutions. The programmes will be offered in collaboration with the American Disaster Foundation, the European Center for Disaster Medicine, the American College of Surgeons and prominent organisations in the United Kingdom, organisers said.

• Event: 26th National First Line of Defense Forum — launched March 28 in Abu Dhabi
• Organisers: National Unified and Integrated Training System for Readiness and Response; UAE National Medical and Volunteer Reserve Team
• Funding: Dh100 million for specialised, internationally accredited training
• International partners: American Disaster Foundation; European Center for Disaster Medicine; American College of Surgeons; UK organisations
• Accreditation: European Center for Disaster Medicine and National Training

Professor Roberto Mugavero, President of the European Center for Disaster Medicine, announced the official accreditation of Abu Dhabi as the first licensed centre for emergency and disaster medical training in the Middle East and North Africa. "Abu Dhabi has solidified its position as a regional and international hub for developing training curriculam, advancing simulation-based programs and integrating artificial intelligence technologies into training," he said, underlining the emirate’s expansion of simulation and AI-driven methods in preparedness education.

Participation at the forum drew a wide cross-section of national stakeholders: medical institutions, ambulance services, civil defence, police and other emergency and disaster response authorities. The event honoured distinguished national professionals, training institutions, certified trainers, and reserve and volunteer medical teams for their roles in designing and managing specialised training programmes and supporting healthcare systems domestically and abroad.

Outlook

Organisers framed the forum as part of a strategic national vision to build an integrated training ecosystem that links government, private and non-profit sectors. The initiative aims to establish a unified and integrated field management system at the operational level by combining theoretical education, practical application and high-fidelity simulation, and to reinforce cooperation among healthcare, security and service sectors. With ongoing regional tensions cited as a backdrop, the accelerated investment in mandatory, accredited training signals Abu Dhabi’s push to institutionalise readiness and scale first-responder capabilities across the region.