Dubai Civil Defense has launched the '1 Billion Readiness' initiative — the world's largest fire safety and hazard-prevention programme — under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management. The global campaign aims to train and raise awareness among one billion people between 2025 and 2027.
A Global Fire Safety Drive of Unprecedented Scale
The Dubai Civil Defense '1 Billion Readiness' initiative brings together 34 countries and 18 leading firefighting organisations, collectively representing approximately 70% of the global population. The UAE led the formation of the Body of the Global Fire Fighters, underscoring Dubai's commitment to international cooperation on critical safety challenges.
The programme delivers comprehensive fire prevention training through specialised digital platforms available in multiple languages, supported by extensive public awareness campaigns. Upon completing the training, participants receive certified electronic credentials issued jointly by the Global Wildfire Monitoring Centre and the Dubai Civil Defence Readiness Programme.
Hope Convoys: Supporting Developing Nations
A central pillar of the initiative is the Hope Convoys project — expeditions that deliver essential firefighting equipment to developing countries and support the establishment of fire stations. Beyond improving emergency preparedness, the convoys strengthen international relationships within the global safety sector and extend life-saving capacity to communities that lack adequate fire response infrastructure.
Local Outreach Across All Sectors
At home in Dubai, the initiative targets a wide cross-section of society: schools, government agencies and departments, and private-sector organisations. Lieutenant General Expert Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi has highlighted the programme's use of multilingual electronic media and targeted campaigns to embed fire safety awareness across all demographic groups and age ranges.
Dubai Cements Its Role in Global Safety Innovation
By combining the concept of mass readiness with a target of one billion trained individuals, Dubai is reinforcing its standing as a global hub for safety innovation and crisis management. The '1 Billion Readiness' initiative positions the UAE as a constructive force in both regional and international emergency preparedness — setting a new benchmark for what a city-led safety campaign can achieve on a planetary scale.
