The association hopes to raise awareness of how to act in an emergency. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The UAE Ministry of Community Empowerment has issued a ministerial resolution announcing the official establishment of the Safety and Emergency Security Association, designed to promoting a culture of safety and enhancing community readiness in the face of emergencies

The association, which will be headquartered in the Emirate of Sharjah, is the initiative of  a group of distinguished national experts with extensive experience in safety and emergency security and  stems from a belief in the importance of collective action and cross-sector collaboration to promote prevention, safety, and empowerment across various fields.

The association is set to play an important role in raising public awareness of safety concepts and preventive measures. This will be achieved through awareness campaigns and activities aimed at various segments of society across all age groups. It will also target non-Arabic and non-English speakers who might struggle to access safety information due to language barriers, with dedicated training in their languages, and multi-lingual information.

In addition, it will offer specialised training programmes to develop skills in safety and emergency preparedness, a key initiative being to train fresh graduates interested in this area. It will strengthen collaboration with government, academic, and private entities to expand strategic partnerships—ultimately enhancing the community’s readiness to respond to emergencies.

The launch of the association coincides with the announcement by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, designating 2025 as the “Year of Community” under the theme “Hand in Hand.” This national initiative aims to strengthen social bonds and community cohesion, instill values of cooperation and belonging, preserve cultural heritage, and encourage active participation through community service, volunteering, and impactful initiatives—all of which reinforce a culture of shared responsibility and drive collective progress.

The association will emphasise the importance of teamwork and shared responsibility across sectors to enhance prevention, promote safety, and empower communities.

"Safety and security are not limited to environmental disasters. A disaster can take many forms, environmental or health-related," said Haitham Mohammed Al Raeesi, the association's Chairman and Manager, Emergency, Crisis & Business Continuity at Dubai Municipality.

"Our role is to raise awareness among individuals on how to act in emergencies, whether it's a fire or a personal crisis. As a non-profit organisation, our goal is to build an informed community."

Saudi Arabia has made notable strides in Numbeo's recently-published Safety Index, climbing from 26^th place in 2024 to 14^th in 2025. This remarkable improvement places Saudi Arabia among the top 15 safest countries in the world, surpassing notable nations such as Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands, and China.

Saudi Arabia’s jump in the rankings saw it overtake several European nations known for their high safety standards, including Switzerland (17^th in 2024 to 23^rd in 2025), Finland (23^rd to 24^th), and the Netherlands (21^st to 26^th).

Overall, as a region, the Middle East reported varying performances in the safety index. The UAE (2^nd place) and Qatar (3^rd place) continue to earn their status as some of the safest countries worldwide. Oman (5^th) also remains a regional leader in safety. Bahrain, though still ranked highly, dropped slightly from 13^th to 16^th.

Kuwait and Israel, both in the top 40, have also maintained relatively strong positions, though not recording a major upward shift like Saudi Arabia.

Numeo also recently released its Quality of Life index of 62 Asian cities, where the Middle East earned all top three slots. Explore full coverage of those rankings here.

Ali Abdulla Al Ali, UAE country chair at Petrofac

In a Q&A with Health, Safety and Environment Review, Ali Abdulla Al Ali, UAE country chair at Petrofac, talks about workplace safety in the UAE and the importance of instilling safety principles from the get-go. Read on:

Can you tell us more about your approach to promoting employee safety and wellbeing and how it has evolved over time?

Safety has been at the heart of my career since the late 1980s, thanks to some incredible mentors like John McFarth. Back in 1980, when I was at Amoco, John drilled three key principles into me: thorough risk assessment, careful planning, and strong supervision. These became my foundation in health and safety, and more recently employee wellbeing.

I’ve built on these values by focusing on the power of training and engagement. Throughout my career at Petrofac in particular, workshopping - for both our teams and clients – has helped make sure safety isn’t a mere checklist, but rather a mindset that is lived every day. I’m also a firm believer in taking time to recognise and reward good safety behaviours. Even small things, like handing out certificates for internal training, can make a big difference.

Over the years I’ve expanded my approach beyond traditional safety measures to include overall wellbeing. One such initiative that I’m involved with is our ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign, where thousands of our people have taken advantage of free screenings to monitor key health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI. I am also a certified mental health first aid provider and have led multiple awareness sessions to reduce stigma and encourage open conversations about mental health.

Beyond that, we ensure colleagues are physically prepared for their roles through our ‘Fitness to Work’ programme, which includes health assessments, surveillance for high-risk roles, and return-to-work support for employees recovering from illness or injury.

How do you see your role as an Emirati leader who connects with the subcontinent workforce? What value does this connection bring to your projects and teams?

One of the things I enjoy most about my role is the diversity of our workforce. We employ more than 70 nationalities in total. But a great number of our people come from the Indian subcontinent, and when they realise I can speak Hindi or Urdu, it immediately breaks down barriers, builds trust, makes conversations easier.

When people feel heard and understood, they’re more likely to speak up, whether it’s about a concern or an idea for improvement. That kind of openness is crucial in our industry. And on a bigger scale, as an Emirati leader, I see it as my responsibility to foster inclusion and lead by example.

What do you consider to be the biggest health and safety risks in your industry, and what proactive steps are you taking to mitigate them?

Our role is to design and build big energy infrastructure plants. Its inherently dangerous work, but to give you a specific example, one of the biggest risks we face is during the commissioning and startup phase, especially when introducing hydrocarbons into a facility. This is a critical moment, if something goes wrong, it can have serious consequences.

That’s why we take a comprehensive approach to safety, from detailed start up reviews, regular drills to awareness workshops. Everyone on site needs to know the protocols inside out. We also place a huge emphasis on supervision and attention to detail.

Learning from the past is just as important. We record every incident, no matter how small, because that data helps us improve. We have an app where our people can log HSEQ observations and we look for trends in observations and make interventions before incidents occur. We also survey our staff to give us feedback on our processes, and we hold lots of open forums like town halls to keep communication regular, open and two-way.

What advice would you give to other HSE leaders looking to implement a more inclusive and multilingual approach to health and safety?

Instead of translating HSE materials as an afterthought, we design them from the start with different audiences in mind. That means using clear visuals, straightforward translatable language, and real-world examples that make sense to the people reading them. When safety feels relatable, people engage with it more.

It’s also important to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their background or language, feels empowered to contribute to the overall culture of safety in an organisation.

How do you measure the success and effectiveness of your safety initiatives at Petrofac?

We believe in keeping things simple. Going back to basics is key to safe and reliable operations so we track our progress through hard data and real feedback.

Some of the key factors we look at include lost time injuries (LTIs), safety observations, audits, permits issued, kilometres travelled, and total man-hours worked. Beyond the numbers, we listen to our people. If employees feel safer, more engaged, and more empowered to take ownership of safety, that’s when we know we’re making an impact.

The fire station will shortly be operational. (Image source: Omrania)

Omrania, part of the Egis Group, has announced the successful completion of the KAFD Fire Station, a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) that sets a new standard for fire station design as well as promoting firefighter wellbeing

The fire station is an essential emergency response facility and a model of innovation, integrating sustainability, functionality and health-conscious elements. The first LEED Platinum v4-certified fire station in the world, it sets new standards in emergency response infrastructure and energy efficiency. Designed with advanced safety systems, cutting-edge technologies, and a louvered glass façade illuminated by matrix LED lights, the facility is optimised for climate-conscious operations while enhancing firefighting capacity and public safety within the district.

As well as its striking architectural design with dynamic façade screen, the two-level structure has been meticulously designed with operational efficiency in mind. As a fire station within a high-rise district, particular attention has been given to the roof design. The green roof and photovoltaic panels enhance sustainability and reduce the visual impact of mechanical equipment, creating a clean, organised appearance that aligns with the overall aesthetic of the district.

Inside, the facility has been designed with a focus on occupant well-being. A minimalist yet robust interior aesthetic complements the operational needs of firefighters while ensuring long-term durability. In recognition of the intensive nature of firefighting, the station includes dedicated wellness and relaxation spaces, such as a gym, lounges and a central courtyard.

Marwan Bsaibes, managing principal at Omrania, said, "The completion of the KAFD Fire Station marks a milestone in sustainable and functional design. This project is a testament to Omrania’s commitment to delivering innovative and high-quality architecture that enhances the built environment while prioritising the well-being of its users."

Doha, Qatar, has earned an impressive third-place ranking among 62 Asian cities in the 2025 Numbeo Quality of Life Index. This achievement highlights Doha’s evolution into a modern, globally competitive city that prioritises resident well-being.

The Numbeo index assesses cities based on factors such as purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, traffic, pollution, and climate.

Doha’s overall Quality of Life Index score reached 178.7, with a high purchasing power index of 151.8 and a strong safety score of 84.1. The city’s healthcare index stood at 73.4, while the cost of living remained relatively low at 47.8.

Other notable scores included a 6.2 Property Price to Income Ratio, 29.1 for Traffic Commute Time, 59.9 for Pollution, and 36.0 for Climate.

Doha follows only Abu Dhabi and Muscat in the rankings, a testament to Qatar’s strategic investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and sustainability. The city’s safety, healthcare facilities, and metro system contribute were evaluated to have contributed significantly to its high livability.