General Motors (GM) Middle East has collaborated with SANID, one of the Emirates Foundation’s flagship programs, to provide an electric vehicle (EV) awareness training, aimed at breaking down EV adoption barriers while setting a strong foundation for sustainable mobility.
Highlighting the GMC HUMMER EV as one of the most powerful EVs on the road, the session enhanced the capabilities of First Aider and First Responder volunteers, building on GM’s safety-first commitment and the country’s vision to accelerate EV adoption.
The workshop was an adaptation of the EV First Responder’s Training that GM delivers to regional Civil Defense Emergency First Responders, as an additional specified EV awareness training to further strengthen their emergency response expertise.
Participants took part in both theoretical and practical sessions covering best practices for handling EVs in emergency situations, identifying high-voltage systems, and understanding emergency response procedures. Additionally, the course covered a practical segment with the GMC HUMMER EV, enabling participants to apply their learnings first-hand.
The program provides participants with a diverse array of critical skills, such as disaster preparedness, fire handling, medical response operations, search and rescue, first aid, leadership in emergency situations, and psychological preparedness for crisis response.
SANID’s certified volunteers and trainers provide First Aid trainings and support for entities across the UAE. Meanwhile, GM’s training team has now empowered SANID’s trainers with additional EV safety know-how.
Mohamed Al Hosani Director of Programs – Emirates Foundation
“At Emirates Foundation, safety and sustainability are at the core of how we operate and everything we do. Through our partnership with General Motors Middle East, we are working to empower volunteers with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to emergencies efficiently. As part of Sanid, one of our flagship programs, we are committed to providing first response teams with the latest knowledge about electric vehicles, contributing to building a safer and more sustainable community.”
Sajed Sbeih, Director of Customer Care & Aftersales at GM Africa & Middle East, stated that, “At GM, safety is at the heart of everything we do and with our global expertise, we extend this know-how to our communities to navigate the future of mobility safely. As we work hand-in-hand with the Emirates Foundation’s SANID team to safeguard our community, we are contributing to the country and GM’s vision of a cleaner and healthier planet. We value our ongoing partnership with Emirates Foundation and appreciate the dedication of SANID volunteers in building a safer and more resilient community.”
GM remains committed to advancing regional safety initiatives and supporting the transition toward an electrified future through education and strategic partnerships.
