UAE and European Centre forge regional disaster medicine alliance

A significant partnership between JAHEZIYA and San Marino's European Centre for Disaster Medicine will strengthen medical preparedness and emergency response capabilities across the Middle East and North Africa.

The UAE’s National Medical Preparedness and Response Programme, known as JAHEZIYA, has joined forces with the European Centre for Disaster Medicine in San Marino to establish a transformative regional initiative. The Middle East and North Africa Disaster Medicine Programme represents a substantial commitment to elevating medical readiness across one of the world’s most strategically important regions.

The partnership, which builds upon a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2023, brings together scientific expertise, technological innovation, and operational experience from two continents. The announcement came during the European Disaster Medicine Forum in San Marino, where leading experts and representatives from the European Union and the World Health Organisation gathered to consider the future of emergency medical systems.

Dr. Adel Alshamry Al Ajami, Chief Executive Officer of JAHEZIYA, has been entrusted with leading this ambitious programme. His vision centres on transforming international partnerships into sustainable national capabilities, drawing upon the UAE’s considerable experience in developing integrated medical preparedness and response infrastructure. The initiative will establish a regional network encompassing universities, professional training academies, scientific institutions, healthcare providers, government authorities, and humanitarian organisations.

The programme targets seven principal areas of focus. First, it will strengthen hospital and prehospital emergency medical response systems, improving institutional readiness across the region. Second, it will promote coordination between civilian healthcare institutions, military medical services, civil defence, and humanitarian organisations. Third, it will establish strategic partnerships with leading universities and international disaster medicine experts.

Education and capacity building form a central pillar, with specialized professional training programmes, medical simulation exercises, and disaster medicine leadership initiatives. The programme will integrate artificial intelligence and advanced technologies into emergency preparedness systems, enhancing predictive analytics and digital education. It will also strengthen capabilities in mass-casualty incident management, chemical and biological emergency preparedness, and field hospital operations.

Crucially, the initiative embraces an innovative financial model designed for sustainability. Rather than relying on external funding alone, it will generate resources through professional training programmes, institutional agreements, academic partnerships, scientific research, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. This approach ensures the programme can maintain continuity of educational activities and research while expanding access to specialized training across the region.

Professor Roberto Mugavero, President of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine, emphasised the significance of international collaboration. “The future of disaster medicine depends on international cooperation, technological innovation, institutional integration, and sustainable capacity building,” he said, noting that such efforts contribute directly to protecting lives and strengthening national resilience in responding to emergencies.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

This partnership positions Abu Dhabi and the broader UAE as a centre of excellence in medical preparedness and disaster response for the Middle East and North Africa region. By leveraging the nation’s sophisticated healthcare infrastructure and its experience in integrated emergency systems, JAHEZIYA brings proven capabilities to an international platform. The programme reflects the UAE’s commitment to regional stability and humanitarian responsibility, demonstrating how advanced medical systems can be shared and developed collaboratively.

For Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector, the initiative opens pathways for professional development, research collaboration, and technological advancement. Medical professionals across the emirate will benefit from access to specialized training, advanced simulation technologies, and knowledge exchange with European experts. The programme’s focus on sustainable financial models may also create opportunities for local institutions and private-sector partners to contribute expertise and resources, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s role as a regional hub for medical innovation and preparedness.

Source: WAM