The Emergencies, Crises, and Disasters Management Centre Abu Dhabi (ADCMC) has activated the fourth cohort of the Alternative National Service Programme, deploying 118 new recruits across 11 government entities in Abu Dhabi.
The deployment was conducted in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Defence, represented by the National Service and Reserve Authority, alongside the ADCMC.
This initiative is designed to strengthen business continuity within critical institutions and sectors during potential emergencies, crises and disasters. By equipping personnel with essential skills through targeted preparation, qualification, and training, the programme ensures that key roles remain operational under challenging circumstances.
With the activation of eight additional entities, a total of 18 government bodies in Abu Dhabi, including ADCMC, are now part of the programme, with ADCMC recently receiving its first cohort of 20 alternative service recruits. This milestone marks a strategic advancement toward building an integrated framework that reinforces the emirate’s readiness to manage emergencies, crises and disasters.
The latest move brings the total number of recruits in the programme to 260, as part of a strategy to establish 30 active agencies across the emirate by early 2025.
The first batch, which was activated in March 2023, included 86 recruits from three government entities. The second batch, in September 2023, added 15 recruits to two more government entities, while the third batch, in February 2024, had 41 recruits spread across five government agencies.
As an organising body in Abu Dhabi, the ADCMC plays a pivotal role in activating alternative service protocols across essential sectors and institutions. It is tasked with identifying eligible entities in alignment with National Service and Reserve Authority standards, assigning recruits to suitable job classifications, overseeing their performance evaluations, and ensuring their ongoing participation in annual training and exercise programmes.
Matar Al Nuaimi, ADCMC’s Director-General, said, “This latest activation aligns seamlessly with Abu Dhabi’s vision of ensuring uninterrupted operations and service continuity in the face of potential crises and disasters. It also represents a meaningful investment in the emirate’s future, as ADCMC ensures that alternative strategies are in place to maintain essential functions with the support of the next generation. Over the next four years, the centre plans to gradually increase recruitment to meet its ambitious overall target.
“Additionally, the centre supervises the implementation of Business Continuity Management systems in collaboration with other entities. Its responsibilities include reviewing and processing requests to activate alternative services within local institutions, as well as developing the necessary guidelines and plans to use alternative service recruits in accordance with existing regulations.”
He added that incorporating alternative national service recruits into business continuity plans will provide these entities with both quantitative and qualitative human resource support, greatly increasing operational effectiveness and emergency response times.
Brigadier Hamad Khalifa Al Neyadi, Chief of the National Service and Reserve Authority (NSRA), commended the ADCMC’s efforts in utilising alternative national service recruits and raising awareness among Abu Dhabi’s Government entities about the critical role of alternative service in sustaining business continuity and supporting national development.
Al Neyadi highlighted how this initiative offers institutions a valuable opportunity to leverage young UAE nationals’ talents and exceptional skills to enhance organisational processes and systems.
The recruits will be strategically assigned to key departments and critical roles within the centre, including Operations Management, the Alternative Service Department, the Planning and Infrastructure Resilience Department, the Risk and Threat Assessment Department, and the Cybersecurity Office. These placements will be completed in alignment with the procedural guidelines and specific requirements for each role, and will be supplemented with regular training and drills to assess the effectiveness of the training provided.
After completing the training period, they are required to attend an annual refresher course for two weeks. After the recruit has served for six months, the centre will conduct a comprehensive assessment in order to track progress in collaboration with each government entity that hosts alternative service recruits.
On 18th and 19th December 2024, the ADCMC will also host the Resilience Forum to increase cooperation on the implementation of the Alternative National Service Programme and promote its role in supporting business continuity. This annual event focuses on business continuity and alternative national service, uniting industry leaders, decision-makers, government entities, companies, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss and showcase the latest and best practices related to the field.
The forum will also honour key local entities and partners, ensuring effective support for this national initiative to bolster business continuity across the emirate.