Crisis and Emergency Management Summit – Abu Dhabi 2023 concludes its two-day event with recommendations from experts and leaders in the field

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• Rabdan Academy concludes its participation as a strategic academic partner in the Emergency and Crisis Management Summit “Abu Dhabi 2023”

• Experts and specialists in the field of emergencies, crises and disasters from Rabdan Academy participate in the various activities of the summit

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Abu Dhabi – 10 May 2023: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Advisor, the Crisis and Emergency Management Summit – Abu Dhabi 2023, held on 9th and 10th May 2023 at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort and organised by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), has concluded.

The summit was attended by a number of officials, academics, experts, innovators and participants from around the world representing the emergency, crisis and disaster management authorities from regional and international organizations concerned with crises and disasters management.

The culmination of Crisis and Emergency Management Summit CEMS – Abu Dhabi 2023 included thirteen recommendations by a group of experts and specialists. The recommendations were formulated based on the most significant information, ideas and experiences shared during the event which enabled the Committee to draw a clear road map to move forward.

Recommendations included the paramount importance of well-planned operations to respond to emergencies, the need for enhanced cooperation among all parties involved in the emergency and crisis management system especially civil society, the prioritization of education and training as it is a basis for improving the performance of emergency and crisis institutions, and the development of efficient international standards for emergency and crisis management.

The recommendations also included the importance of consistent coordination and cooperation between nations and organisations involved in local emergency and crisis management; establishing trust in the exchange of information and expertise between international organizations, countries and regions of the world; utilizing modern technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in the national emergency and crisis management system; and addressing the next generation of risks brought about by current economic conditions through studies and research to raise preparedness.

The recommendations also highlighted the importance of developing a clear approach to foreseeing crisis and disasters; identifying and assessing risks to develop various systems and methodologies to face them; raising awareness levels of community members to enhance their response and minimizing society’s vulnerability to threats; and building a more sustainable future for next generations that calls for enhanced international climate action efforts.

Addressing global climate challenges, the summit calls for countries to enhance resilience through investment and climate adaptation in cities to reduce the economic impact of future climate change crises. Finally, the summit emphasized in its recommendations that the emergency and crisis management is both a science and art, and that logic, philosophy and other areas of humanities are involved in the preparation of the future generation of emergency and crisis management leaders.

The activities of the second day of the summit included several discussion sessions such as “Foreseeing the Future of Emergencies and Crises and the Next Generation of Risks”. The session covered raising preparedness for unexpected threats and disasters and the speakers were Dr. Saif Juma Al Dhaheri, Director of the National Operations Center of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority; Dr. Saeed Khalfan AlDhaheri, Director of the Center for Futures Studies at the University of Dubai; Dr. Charilaos Mertzanis, Professor of Finance at Abu Dhabi University; and Dr. Diego Otegui, Assistant Professor of Crisis and Disaster Management at the University of Central Missouri. The session was moderated by Dr. Khameis Alabdouli, Program Chair of the Foundation and General Education and Assistant Professor of Integrated Emergency Management and Business Continuity at the Rabdan Academy.

The second session of day two of the summit was entitled, “Preparing the Community for Emergencies and Crises”. It discussed mechanisms of including the community as a key success partner in emergency and crisis management, which requires awareness and cohesion by the community to know how to face crises and disasters. The discussion session was moderated by Mr. Eisa Al Marzooqi, a journalist from Sky News Arabia.

The third session of the second day highlighted on preparing the next generation of leaders to face emergencies and crises, entitled “Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders to Face Emergencies and Crises”, in which Dr. Ali bin Seba Al Marri, CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, and Dr. Adnan Olwan, a retired Major General and expert in emergency and crisis management, leadership development and strategies of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, were the speakers. The session was moderated by Dr. Faisal Ahmed AlKaabi, Dean of Faculty of Resilience at Rabdan Academy.

Conclusion

At the end of the summit, participants expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the wise leadership of the UAE for its efforts to enhance the emergency, crisis, and disaster management industry, especially to H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and National Security Advisor, for his generosity in sponsoring the summit.

The participants thanked the graciousness and hospitality of the people of the UAE, especially the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, for the flawless organisation of the successful event and the selection of the most vital topics in shaping the future of emergencies and crises management.

This summit is the most prominent event of its kind in the Gulf region and the rest of the world. It serves as a global platform for participants to exchange knowledge, ideas and experiences with a group of international experts, academics and key figures in the field of emergency and crisis management through a series of discussion sessions and workshops. The summit’s main objective is to reach the best solutions and recommendations in overcoming emergencies and crises for a resilient crisis management system that can avoid foreseeable calamities and mitigate its effects.