
Rabdan Academy launches the first edition of the 'Inclusivity in Safety' conference
In Strategic Partnership with the Ministry of Interior
A strategic platform to unify national efforts in enhancing emergency and crisis response systems with a focus on integrating People of Determination (POD).
The conference showcases the latest global technological and policing practices to support caregivers and first responders.
Distinguished participation from experts of the Secure Communities Forum and prominent policing and academic leaders.
Aligned with the UAE's Year of Community 2025, reflecting the country's commitment to data-driven and inclusive policymaking.
Abu Dhabi – UAE: Rabdan Academy, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Interior, has announced the launch of the first edition of the 'Inclusivity in Safety' Conference, scheduled to take place on 16 June 2025, at the Academy's campus in Abu Dhabi, in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual).
The conference coincides with the UAE's Year of Community 2025 and aligns with the nation's vision to foster inclusive social frameworks. It aims to enhance the readiness of the national emergency response system, while ensuring the integration of People of Determination (POD) in civil protection and community preparedness plans.
The conference highlights several strategic and specialized themes, including: the role of first responders in assisting PODs during disasters and emergencies, presentations of advanced technological solutions and policing practices that promote inclusive community safety, field-based international experiences from leading law enforcement agencies, case studies and research papers addressing the challenges and opportunities of integrating PODs in public safety systems, victim rights and equity frameworks for PODs during emergency response, as well as Interactive simulation scenarios illustrating best practices in immediate and specialized response.
The conference will also showcase smart technological innovations that support police officers and field caregivers—such as artificial intelligence, geolocation systems, and assistive communication devices—to facilitate safer and more accessible services for PODs under exceptional circumstances.
H.E. Salem Al Saeedi, Vice President of Rabdan Academy, affirmed that the conference represents a strategic milestone reflecting the Academy's deep commitment to developing realistic and innovative solutions that ensure the inclusion of all societal segments in national response frameworks.
'Our joint work with the Ministry of Interior strengthens our ability to build a safer and more prepared environment, especially amid rising challenges. Through this conference, we aim to establish meaningful dialogues and pioneering practices that contribute to advancing national policies and plans,' Al Saeedi said.
Lt. Colonel Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director General of the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Interior, stated that achieving inclusivity in safety is a core focus of the Ministry's approach to strengthening sustainable community response.
Al Marzouqi emphasized that the conference aims to highlight the critical roles PODs can play within national preparedness systems and promote a flexible, equitable environment in emergency situations.
The conference will feature notable participation from experts of the Secure Communities Forum, one of the world's leading platforms dedicated to the advancement of inclusive community safety. These experts will present advanced perspectives and successful international experiences that contribute to the integration of community safety frameworks, through expert panels and specialized workshops, enriching both theoretical and practical content of the event.
The event brings together a distinguished group of global experts in safety and civil protection, alongside senior police and academic figures, and representatives from POD care organizations. It serves as a dynamic platform for experience exchange and discussions on the latest developments in comprehensive community preparedness.
This conference marks a pivotal step in enhancing the UAE's emergency resilience and public safety institutions, and demonstrates the country's unwavering commitment to building a safe, resilient, and inclusive society. It also supports government efforts to design data-driven policies based on practical insights that respond to diverse human needs.
The conference aims to unify efforts across government, security, and academic sectors to build a high-impact, innovative response system anchored in inclusivity, strategic partnerships, and public awareness—further reinforcing the UAE's regional and global leadership in inclusive community preparedness.
Registration is open for those interested in participating in person or virtually through the following link: https://shorturl.at/TGn6J
About Rabdan Academy
Rabdan Academy is a government-owned world-class education institution established to coordinate and enhance learning outcomes for organisations and individuals in the Safety, Security, Defence, Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management (SSDEC) Sectors.
The Academy was officially established under Law No. 7 for 2013, issued by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is accredited by the UAE's Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the Ministry of Education.
The Academy is the world's first higher education institution specializing in the SSDEC domain to achieve a top "5-Star" rating in six key categories of the QS Stars University Rating System: Teaching, Facilities, Employability, Global Engagement, Academic Development, and Good Governance.
As a unique institution, the Academy provides learning in a dual approach, combining academic and vocational education in one place, whilst recognising prior learning and experience and providing accredited and transferable credit from course to course and job to job. For more information, please visit https://ra.ac.ae/
For Media Enquiries, please contact: Corporate Communications Office
(cco@ra.ac.ae)
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Rabdan Academy launches the first edition of the 'Inclusivity in Safety' conference
In Strategic Partnership with the Ministry of Interior A strategic platform to unify national efforts in enhancing emergency and crisis response systems with a focus on integrating People of Determination (POD). The conference showcases the latest global technological and policing practices to support caregivers and first responders. Distinguished participation from experts of the Secure Communities Forum and prominent policing and academic leaders. Aligned with the UAE's Year of Community 2025, reflecting the country's commitment to data-driven and inclusive policymaking. Abu Dhabi – UAE: Rabdan Academy, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Interior, has announced the launch of the first edition of the 'Inclusivity in Safety' Conference, scheduled to take place on 16 June 2025, at the Academy's campus in Abu Dhabi, in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual). The conference coincides with the UAE's Year of Community 2025 and aligns with the nation's vision to foster inclusive social frameworks. It aims to enhance the readiness of the national emergency response system, while ensuring the integration of People of Determination (POD) in civil protection and community preparedness plans. The conference highlights several strategic and specialized themes, including: the role of first responders in assisting PODs during disasters and emergencies, presentations of advanced technological solutions and policing practices that promote inclusive community safety, field-based international experiences from leading law enforcement agencies, case studies and research papers addressing the challenges and opportunities of integrating PODs in public safety systems, victim rights and equity frameworks for PODs during emergency response, as well as Interactive simulation scenarios illustrating best practices in immediate and specialized response. The conference will also showcase smart technological innovations that support police officers and field caregivers—such as artificial intelligence, geolocation systems, and assistive communication devices—to facilitate safer and more accessible services for PODs under exceptional circumstances. H.E. Salem Al Saeedi, Vice President of Rabdan Academy, affirmed that the conference represents a strategic milestone reflecting the Academy's deep commitment to developing realistic and innovative solutions that ensure the inclusion of all societal segments in national response frameworks. 'Our joint work with the Ministry of Interior strengthens our ability to build a safer and more prepared environment, especially amid rising challenges. Through this conference, we aim to establish meaningful dialogues and pioneering practices that contribute to advancing national policies and plans,' Al Saeedi said. Lt. Colonel Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director General of the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Interior, stated that achieving inclusivity in safety is a core focus of the Ministry's approach to strengthening sustainable community response. Al Marzouqi emphasized that the conference aims to highlight the critical roles PODs can play within national preparedness systems and promote a flexible, equitable environment in emergency situations. The conference will feature notable participation from experts of the Secure Communities Forum, one of the world's leading platforms dedicated to the advancement of inclusive community safety. These experts will present advanced perspectives and successful international experiences that contribute to the integration of community safety frameworks, through expert panels and specialized workshops, enriching both theoretical and practical content of the event. The event brings together a distinguished group of global experts in safety and civil protection, alongside senior police and academic figures, and representatives from POD care organizations. It serves as a dynamic platform for experience exchange and discussions on the latest developments in comprehensive community preparedness. This conference marks a pivotal step in enhancing the UAE's emergency resilience and public safety institutions, and demonstrates the country's unwavering commitment to building a safe, resilient, and inclusive society. It also supports government efforts to design data-driven policies based on practical insights that respond to diverse human needs. The conference aims to unify efforts across government, security, and academic sectors to build a high-impact, innovative response system anchored in inclusivity, strategic partnerships, and public awareness—further reinforcing the UAE's regional and global leadership in inclusive community preparedness. Registration is open for those interested in participating in person or virtually through the following link: About Rabdan Academy Rabdan Academy is a government-owned world-class education institution established to coordinate and enhance learning outcomes for organisations and individuals in the Safety, Security, Defence, Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management (SSDEC) Sectors. The Academy was officially established under Law No. 7 for 2013, issued by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is accredited by the UAE's Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the Ministry of Education. The Academy is the world's first higher education institution specializing in the SSDEC domain to achieve a top "5-Star" rating in six key categories of the QS Stars University Rating System: Teaching, Facilities, Employability, Global Engagement, Academic Development, and Good Governance. As a unique institution, the Academy provides learning in a dual approach, combining academic and vocational education in one place, whilst recognising prior learning and experience and providing accredited and transferable credit from course to course and job to job. For more information, please visit For Media Enquiries, please contact: Corporate Communications Office (cco@


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