Abu Dhabi International Conference Launches National Training Programme For Major Incident Management

The Abu Dhabi International Major Incidents Conference has started in the UAE capital, gathering leaders and experts in disaster management globally. This event marks the launch of the Unified National Training Programme for Major Incident Management, known as "I‘daad." The programme aims to standardise training and improve readiness among first responders across various sectors in the UAE.

Developed with international accreditation, I‘daad partners with global institutions like the European Centre for Disaster Medicine and the British Resuscitation Group. It is supervised by the National Major Incidents Academy, Jaheziya, and Wataniya Training – Tadrib. The programme collaborates with the UAE Medical Reserve and Volunteer Team to enhance emergency response capabilities.

The conference, organised by Medec Conferences, serves as a strategic platform to unify training curricula for first responders from health, police, ambulance, military, and public service sectors. The goal is to strengthen readiness and harmonise response methods according to international best practices. Participants highlighted that this unified approach represents a transformative step in enhancing preparedness through standardised procedures.

Officials announced 7,000 fully funded training scholarships for first responders nationwide during the conference. This initiative offers 1,000 scholarships per emirate to empower responders in health, ambulance, civil defense, and police sectors. The aim is to equip them with essential skills for managing large-scale emergencies effectively.

The event underscores the UAE’s strategic vision of building an integrated readiness ecosystem based on global expertise. It prioritises protecting lives, developing first responder capabilities, and strengthening cross-sectoral coordination during major incidents. Dr. Adel Al Shamry Al Ajmi stated: "Under wise leadership, the nation has solidified its position as a global partner in shaping emergency preparedness."

Dr. Al Ajmi further noted that Jaheziya continues to bolster this position by investing in human capital and adopting global best practices. By launching innovative initiatives and forming strategic partnerships, Jaheziya advances specialised training and national capacity building for first responders.

Global Benchmark

Professor Roberto Megavero praised the UAE’s progress in unifying training methodologies as a global benchmark. He said: "The UAE’s progress in unifying training methodologies and enhancing major incident response capabilities represents a global benchmark." International cooperation reinforces this success, positioning the UAE among advanced nations in disaster medicine.

The Unified National Training Programme strengthens national capacities by standardising curricula across institutions after years of variance. It implements a unified national response model covering command control, triage, evacuation, site management while enhancing joint operational capabilities among health entities.

Realistic Training

The programme conducts realistic drills and full-scale simulations of major incidents while certifying nationally qualified trainers with international accreditation. It expands specialised national training centres' numbers while supporting the application of regulatory guidelines ensuring compliance across all response agencies.

This initiative follows a successful pilot phase where hundreds of first responders were trained using accredited curricula under Jaheziya's supervision. Over five years, more than 20,000 first responders have been trained across the UAE.

Experts emphasised collaboration among national emergency entities during critical periods is essential at this conference. A unified operational language ensures rapid response minimising errors during complex incidents reflecting UAE’s commitment towards readiness resilience globally.

With inputs from WAM