The Integrated National Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Programme, known as Jahiziyah, has introduced the training scheme to equip Emirati nationals with advanced paramedic capabilities as the Emirates News Agency reported. The curriculum covers pre-hospital medical interventions, trauma management and coordinated responses to large-scale emergencies while emphasising both technical proficiency and leadership in the field. Partners from the National Ambulance Company, the Ministry of Health and Prevention as well as police and civil defence authorities will deliver the modules that combine classroom study with extensive hands-on simulations. This effort directly supports broader national goals of strengthening frontline emergency services with locally trained talent.
Earlier emiratisation drives provided a foundation for the current rollout. The National Ambulance’s Emirati EMT programme, launched in 2019, aligned with government plans by preparing locals for frontline roles and saw enrolment of hundreds of students across Higher Colleges of Technology campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah according to HCT records. That initiative produced graduates who entered ambulance services and demonstrated the viability of structured national training pathways. Jahiziyah has now expanded this model with a dedicated focus on paramedic skill development at a national scale.
The Jahiziyah launch National Programme to Develop Skills of Emirati Paramedics forms part of a sequence of related health preparedness efforts. In May 2026 the framework introduced the first national Emirati nurses programme aimed at building leadership in emergency nursing as Gulf News reported. Earlier this month authorities unveiled the Community Readiness component under the same umbrella with the target of preparing one million community responders in first aid, CPR and initial crisis intervention according to official WAM announcements. These interconnected programmes share resources and expertise across healthcare, ambulance, police, civil defence and emergency response organisations.
Training under the paramedic track will advance through progressive levels beginning with basic life support and escalating to complex incident management and triage protocols. Instructors drawn from established emergency sectors will ensure participants master both medical procedures and inter-agency coordination essential during major events. The structure also integrates modules on psychological first aid to address the full spectrum of needs in emergency situations. Enrolment targets Emirati citizens seeking careers in this vital area of public service.
Dr Adel Abdullah Al Shammari Al Ajmi, Chairman of the UAE National Jaheziya Programmes, said that the initiatives strengthen a national culture based on prevention, preparedness, rapid response, business continuity and recovery while transforming knowledge and training into capabilities that can be activated when needed. Programme data indicate that similar past efforts have steadily increased the proportion of nationals in emergency medical roles. The latest scheme builds on those gains by offering continuous professional development and clear career progression for qualified paramedics.
Public Authority for Civil Information statistics have long shown that expatriates constitute a significant share of the healthcare workforce, underscoring the strategic value of such national training drives. The Jahiziyah programme coordinates with existing education and health institutions to align curricula with actual operational demands faced by ambulance crews and hospital teams. Ongoing assessments will measure the initiative’s success through metrics such as graduation rates, employment placement and improvements in emergency response times across the country.
