His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, attended part of a national multi-sector tabletop exercise that was conducted by the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), in collaboration with the UAE Cyber Security Council, during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025.
Designed to simulate complex, multi-layered scenarios—including a powerful cyclone, severe climate fluctuations, and coordinated cyberattacks—the exercise reflects the UAE’s ongoing commitment to strengthening national readiness, enhancing integration between federal and local entities, and ensuring the effectiveness of its crisis coordination and response framework. It also embodies the nation’s proactive and resilient approach to crisis and risk management.
More than 49 national entities from vital sectors took part in the exercise, working seamlessly within realistic operational, technical, and media-driven scenarios. The aim was to ensure business continuity, improve field coordination, and accelerate response time during high-pressure situations.
NCEMA affirmed that the exercise represents an advanced model of inter-agency cooperation, aligned with the directives of the UAE leadership to elevate the national emergency response system and adopt world-class crisis management practices. The Authority explained that it led and coordinated the exercise through sophisticated mechanisms designed to monitor performance, analyse response levels, and evaluate readiness across all tiers of government.
His Excellency Ali Saeed Al Neyadi, Chairman of NCEMA, emphasised the Authority’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the UAE’s preparedness and national response capabilities in the face of diverse risks. He noted that realistic, technology-integrated simulations play a crucial role in strengthening coordination among partners across all vital sectors.
For his part, Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, highlighted that the exercise underscores the UAE’s dedication to reinforcing cybersecurity as a fundamental pillar of national security—particularly as global digital threats continue to increase. He praised the collaborative effort between NCEMA and the Cybersecurity Council in safeguarding the nation’s digital infrastructure.
Both NCEMA and the Cybersecurity Council affirmed that their participation in the UAE Government Annual Meetings supports the leadership’s vision of solidifying the country’s status as a global model in readiness, sustainability, and forward-looking crisis management. This is achieved through unified national efforts, integrated response mechanisms, and strengthened resilience across all sectors in the face of evolving risks.
