Resilient by design: How NCEMA shapes emergency preparedness in the UAE

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) stands as a cornerstone of the UAE government’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens, residents, and critical assets. Far from being merely a reactive institution, NCEMA is a proactive, strategic agency whose relevance extends across all levels of governance — playing a central role in strengthening national resilience in an increasingly volatile world.

At the core of NCEMA’s mandate is the development and management of a comprehensive national system for emergency, crisis, and disaster response. This system spans the full lifecycle of emergencies: prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Acting as the central coordinating body, NCEMA brings together federal and local government entities, alongside private sector stakeholders, to ensure unified and efficient responses. In a federal system like the UAE, such coordination is crucial to avoid duplication of effort and to ensure agility in crisis scenarios.

NCEMA’s broad remit reflects a holistic approach to national safety. On the prevention and preparedness front, it formulates national strategies, policies, and legislation for emergency management. It conducts rigorous risk assessments to identify threats — ranging from natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods to industrial accidents and public health emergencies. Just as crucial are the national training exercises and simulations it oversees, which ensure all relevant stakeholders are equipped and ready to respond effectively.

Mitigation is woven throughout NCEMA’s strategy. This includes identifying vulnerabilities and working to reduce their impact through improved infrastructure, enhanced building codes, and sustained public awareness campaigns.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 tested emergency management capabilities worldwide. In the UAE, it became a defining moment for NCEMA, which rose to the occasion with distinction. From the earliest stages of the outbreak, the agency led a coordinated, whole-of-government response—linking the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, Dubai Health Authority, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health, and the Armed Forces.

Mass testing sites were deployed with military precision. Quarantine protocols were rapidly standardised and enforced. Strategic public messaging campaigns helped combat misinformation and maintain trust. NCEMA’s central coordination played a key role in the UAE’s world-leading vaccination campaign. While many advanced economies struggled with logistics and coherence, the UAE consistently ranked among the top nations for pandemic response—an achievement attributable in no small part to NCEMA’s foresight and inter-agency collaboration.

NCEMA’s scope extends far beyond public health. In an era of climate disruption, the agency has expanded its focus to address environmental and climate-related threats, such as flash floods, extreme heat, and dust storms. For example, following recent floods in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, NCEMA deployed emergency teams in coordination with local authorities and issued real-time evacuation orders and flood alerts via digital platforms and media broadcasts.

In the cybersecurity domain, NCEMA is working behind the scenes to ensure crisis response protocols are ready in the event of disruptions caused by cyberattacks — especially those targeting vital infrastructure in sectors like water, energy, and telecommunications. The agency partners with the UAE’s National Cybersecurity Council to prepare for cascading cyber-physical scenarios, developing specialized protocols to maintain continuity and minimize damage.

Unlike agencies that act only in the aftermath of a crisis, NCEMA’s work is grounded in strategic foresight. It is as much a policy shaper and resilience builder as it is a response coordinator — reflecting the UAE’s investment in institutional resilience as a key component of national security.

The eighth edition of the World Crisis & Emergency Management Summit (WCEMS) 2025, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, exemplifies this commitment to proactive engagement. Taking place on April 8–9 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the summit is more than a regional event — it is a global platform for strategic dialogue and innovation in emergency management.

The theme of “Together Towards Building Global Resilience” highlights the growing understanding that crises are no longer confined within national borders. WCEMS 2025 will convene government leaders, military officials, diplomats, academics, and private sector innovators to share best practices and shape future policy.

Of particular note is the summit’s emphasis on emerging technologies. From artificial intelligence-driven predictive tools to digital platforms for real-time information sharing, the sessions will explore how technological advances can enhance preparedness, response, and recovery. These discussions are not just theoretical — they are meant to inform real-world investments and shape the future of national and international crisis response systems.

The summit serves as a crucial platform for benchmarking national capabilities against international standards and best practices. Policymakers can gain valuable insights into successful strategies implemented by other nations and identify areas for improvement within their own emergency management framework. The high-profile nature of the summit underscores the political commitment to emergency preparedness and resilience, reinforcing its importance within the national agenda of the UAE.

- Dr Kristian Alexander is a Senior Fellow at the Rabdan Security and Defence Institute (RSDI), Abu Dhabi, UAE.