Community comes together for seventh edition of Emarat Al Aman security initiative

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed inaugurates the interactive festival that unites residents across generations to build shared responsibility for safety and belonging

The seventh edition of Emarat Al Aman opens this week at Zabeel Sports District with a vision that extends far beyond conventional security awareness. When H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council, stepped into the festival on its opening day, he encountered something distinctly human: a gathering designed to weave safety and social responsibility into the fabric of everyday life.

Running through 5th November, the festival brings together participants from across the community under four carefully considered categories. The Community Guardians, Community Leaders and Community Spirit divisions represent continuity with previous seasons, yet this year introduces something new: the Family category, making its debut in recognition of the Year of the Family. The addition reflects a fundamental principle that security begins not with institutions alone, but with individuals and the bonds that hold communities together.

During his tour of the event, Sheikh Mansoor explored the interactive experiences and challenges that form the heart of the programme. These are designed not merely to test capabilities but to foster collaboration across sectors and demographic groups, encouraging residents to see safety as a shared endeavour. The activities embrace residents of different nationalities and age groups, reinforcing the understanding that cohesion and belonging strengthen the community’s stability.

The festival carries forward a philosophy that began in 2018, when Emarat Al Aman was first established. What distinguishes this initiative from conventional awareness campaigns is its interactive character. Rather than passively receiving information, participants engage with challenges and experiences that embody values of cooperation, unity and collective responsibility. This hands-on approach has proven effective in creating lasting shifts in how residents understand their own role in maintaining safety.

The opening ceremony drew senior government figures and representatives from across the public and private sectors. Lieutenant General Awad Hader Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Security Industry Regulatory Agency, joined Lieutenant General Tamim Mohammed Al Muhairi, Director-General of Dubai’s State Security Department, alongside Khalifa Ibrahim Al Saleis, Chief Executive Officer of the Security Industry Regulatory Agency, and officials from strategic partner organisations. As we reported in Sheikh Mansoor’s recent attendance at the Al Ameen Forum 2026, Dubai’s leadership continues to explore how families contribute to broader community security and national resilience.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

Emarat Al Aman represents a distinctive approach to building social cohesion through participation rather than prescription. By positioning security as a shared responsibility that begins at home and radiates outward through families to the wider community, the festival acknowledges that lasting stability emerges from residents who understand their own agency in maintaining it. The introduction of the Family category signals official recognition that social responsibility is most effectively cultivated when it flows across generations within households.

The festival’s emphasis on bringing together people of all nationalities reflects the UAE’s commitment to building inclusive communities where belonging transcends origin. When residents from diverse backgrounds collaborate on shared challenges in pursuit of common safety, they reinforce the bonds that make communities resilient. This year’s edition, running through the weekend at Zabeel Sports District, offers residents an opportunity to participate actively in shaping the secure, cohesive society that underpins the nation’s progress.

Source: WAM