Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: As part of the “Proud of the UAE” initiative, the Emirati Doctors Forum has officially launched the Young Emirati National Leaders Pride Program – FAKHR under the theme “Together for a Nation’s Readiness.” This strategic initiative aims to develop and empower a new generation of young Emirati leaders capable of shaping the future of national preparedness, readiness, and response.
The launch aligns with the national “Proud of the UAE” campaign, reinforcing national pride in frontline professionals and recognizing their critical role in safeguarding the health and safety of society across the country. Frontline teams continue to demonstrate exceptional dedication, strong teamwork, and outstanding professional competence—reflecting the core values of the UAE: resilience, unity, and proactive readiness.
Coinciding with the program launch, specialized training and qualification grants worth AED 10 million were announced. These grants are dedicated to Emirati youth from the frontline workforce in the fields of emergency preparedness, disaster response, and crisis management. Delivered in collaboration with more than ten leading international universities and training centers, the grants represent a significant national investment in human capital—expanding access to advanced training programs and supporting the development of a sustainable generation of qualified Emirati leaders.
The program aims to strengthen national capabilities in specialized education and professional training by preparing participants to take on leadership roles in education, development, and training within the National Unified and Integrated Preparedness and Response System – Jaheziya.
The launch of the “FAKHR” program builds on the success of a six-year pilot phase, which resulted in training, qualifying, and empowering first responders across multiple sectors. More than 1,000 young Emirati doctors have benefited from the program, with measurable impact in enhancing pre-hospital emergency response capabilities nationwide. This reflects a strong national contribution to workforce readiness and professional excellence among frontline personnel.
The achievements of the Jaheziya Program were also highlighted, including the training of over 20,000 frontline personnel and strengthening the readiness of the healthcare sector. The program has enhanced response capabilities among medical teams, emergency services, civil defense, police, and disaster response units through a unified, integrated, and internationally accredited framework.
The program further aims to enhance national capacity in specialized education and professional training by preparing participants for leadership roles across key sectors, including healthcare, emergency medical services, civil defense, police, and the military. Participants will receive internationally accredited qualifications through partnerships with leading global universities and training institutions.
The National Readiness System represents a continuation of the achievements of Jaheziya—the UAE’s unified and integrated national system for preparedness and response—which has successfully developed the competencies of more than 20,000 frontline professionals, strengthened readiness across public and private healthcare sectors, and enhanced national emergency response capabilities, all within a unified framework aligned with international best practices and standards.
Dr. Adel Al Shamry Al Ajami, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative, President of the Emirati Doctors Initiative, and CEO of the UAE National Program for Preparedness and Response (Jaheziya), stated:
“The launch of the FAKHR Program, alongside the AED 10 million grant initiative, reflects our national commitment to investing in Emirati youth and empowering them to become future leaders in preparedness, readiness, and response. Strengthening frontline capabilities is essential to building a resilient and sustainable national system.”
He added that the success of the pilot phase provides a solid foundation for scaling the program at a national level, further reinforcing the UAE’s global leadership in proactive preparedness and response.
Professor Roberto Mugavero, President of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine, stated: “This program represents a forward-looking model for investing in young national leaders through advanced, internationally aligned training frameworks. It highlights the UAE’s commitment to strengthening its preparedness and response capabilities according to the highest global standards.”
He added: “We are proud of our strategic partnership with the UAE’s National Unified and Integrated Preparedness and Response System – Jaheziya, and we fully support this initiative as a global platform for developing future leaders in emergency medicine, disaster management, and crisis response.”
