What To Know
- The UAE Rescue Challenge 2026 reinforces Dubai’s position as a regional leader in emergency preparedness, professional rescue training and international collaboration in public safety.
- Colonel Khalid Al Hammadi, Director of the Search and Rescue Department and General Director of the Challenge, confirmed that the competition includes two primary categories.
- Major General Rashid Khalifa bin Darwish Al Falasi, Director of the General Department of Transport and Rescue at Dubai Police, attended the opening ceremony alongside senior officers.
The UAE Rescue Challenge 2026 officially commenced on Sunday, February 15, at Dubai Police Training City in Al Ruwayyah. The championship is held under the patronage of H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.
Organised by Dubai Police in cooperation with the World Rescue Organisation, the event brings together 15 specialised rescue teams competing in high-intensity simulations designed to mirror real-world emergencies.
The competition aims to benchmark performance against international standards while enhancing operational readiness and emergency response efficiency across participating entities.
Realistic Emergency Scenarios and International Standards
The challenge features realistic scenarios that simulate road traffic collisions and trauma emergencies. These controlled exercises are designed to test response speed, coordination, procedural accuracy and adherence to globally recognised safety protocols.
Major General Rashid Khalifa bin Darwish Al Falasi, Director of the General Department of Transport and Rescue at Dubai Police, attended the opening ceremony alongside senior officers. He highlighted the advanced field expertise and professional capabilities demonstrated by the participating teams.
He emphasised that such specialised championships serve as practical training platforms, closely reflecting real-life emergency conditions. The initiative supports assessment of readiness, improvement in response time and stronger coordination among rescue teams.
Two Main Competition Categories
Colonel Khalid Al Hammadi, Director of the Search and Rescue Department and General Director of the Challenge, confirmed that the competition includes two primary categories.
The first category focuses on road traffic incidents, including both complex and standard collision scenarios, with eight teams competing.
The second category centres on trauma response scenarios, with seven paramedic teams participating.
The top three teams in each category will be announced at the conclusion of the championship.
Participating UAE Entities
Several key emergency and rescue entities from across the UAE are taking part in the challenge. These include Dubai Police, the General Directorate of Civil Defence, Sharjah Civil Defence Authority, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, National Ambulance, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services and the National Guard.
Evaluation criteria are based on response speed, procedural accuracy, teamwork and strict adherence to internationally approved rescue and safety standards.
The UAE Rescue Challenge 2026 reinforces Dubai’s position as a regional leader in emergency preparedness, professional rescue training and international collaboration in public safety.
Cover Image: Dubai Police/Facebook
