The National Forum for Developing the Skills of Professional and Community First Responders has opened in Abu Dhabi under the theme ‘Together for a Prepared Nation,’ bringing together representatives from government and private institutions, healthcare providers, emergency medical services, civil defense, police agencies, and volunteer organizations.
The forum forms part of national efforts to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities for emergencies, crises, and disasters.
Organized under the Unified and Integrated National Preparedness and Response System, the forum is supervised by the Abu Dhabi Disaster Medicine Centre and accredited by Jaheziya Academy, the European Centre for Disaster Medicine, and National Training.
The initiative supports the UAE’s vision of building internationally benchmarked first responder capabilities and follows a series of national programs that have trained and qualified more than 20,000 professional and community first responders across healthcare, emergency, security, and volunteer sectors.
Focus on preparedness and coordination
The forum aims to enhance frontline competencies, strengthen coordination among response agencies, promote community preparedness, and empower residents to contribute to the national emergency response system.
The forum also targets citizens, residents, volunteers, students, and employees from both public and private sectors to strengthen first-aid knowledge, early-response skills, and community participation in emergency preparedness.
First responder skills forum: Core tacks
The event features two core tracks:
The Professional First Responders Track, targeting healthcare workers, emergency medical personnel, police officers, civil defense teams, and specialized response units.
Emergency and Disaster Management Track, designed for crisis management professionals and personnel from strategic sectors to improve coordination and rapid-response capabilities.
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Its scientific program includes specialized workshops, expert panels, and discussion sessions covering disaster medicine, mass casualty management, command and control, rescue and evacuation operations, and responses to biological, chemical, radiological, and nuclear threats. The agenda also highlights the role of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence in emergency response.
Building a nationwide network of responders
Dr. Adel Alshamry Al Ajami, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative, President of Emirates Doctors, and CEO of the UAE National Preparedness and Response Programme (Jaheziya), stated that the forum represents a major national milestone in strengthening frontline response capabilities and fostering a culture of preparedness at both institutional and community levels.
He said that building a comprehensive network of qualified first responders is essential to enhancing public health and community safety, adding that investment in training and human capital development significantly improves emergency and disaster response capabilities in line with international standards.
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Dr. Alshamry noted that national preparedness initiatives launched in recent years have trained more than 20,000 professional and community first responders, helping improve rapid-response capabilities and coordination among stakeholders.
He added that the forum serves as a national platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing global best practices in emergency preparedness, disaster management, and community resilience while supporting strategic partnerships across government, private, academic, and community sectors.
Dr. Alshamry commented that the forum’s theme, ‘Together for a Prepared Nation,’ underscores the importance of collaboration between institutions and individuals in strengthening the national preparedness system, stressing that a well-trained community is a key partner in protecting lives and property during emergencies.
International expertise supports UAE preparedness goals
Professor Roberto Mugavero, President of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine, said investing in first responder training is one of the most important factors in building communities capable of effectively managing crises and disasters.
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He said international experience has consistently shown that rapid response and skilled personnel are critical to minimizing losses and protecting lives and property. He also expressed the center’s support for initiatives that strengthen national capabilities in disaster management, emergency response, and risk preparedness in line with international standards.
Professor Mugavero added that developing an integrated network of professional and community first responders enhances societal resilience and adaptability, while continuous training, simulation exercises, and field-based learning remain essential to improving preparedness and ensuring effective emergency response.
