LAS VEGAS – The Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority (ADCDA) has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem Global Influencer Award.
The award was presented at the NFPA Stars at Night awards gala on June 15, during the annual NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.
Established in 2024, the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem Global Influencer Award “recognizes individuals or organizations who advance safety by applying and promoting the principles of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem,” according to the association announcement.
“We are deeply honored to receive the 2025 NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem Global Influencer Award,” says H.E. Brigadier General Salem Abdulla Al Dhaheri, director general, Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority, in the NFPA announcement. “Our strategic collaboration with NFPA has been vital in elevating our workforce capabilities and fostering a holistic safety ecosystem across the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
“As we continue to lead with innovation and resilience, we reaffirm our dedication to safeguarding our communities and positioning the UAE as a global benchmark for excellence in safety and emergency response,” he says.
Why Abu Dhabi CDA is an NFPA Global Influencer
“Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority has a forward-thinking leadership that is building a strategy around all elements of the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem to achieve real-world results,” says NFPA president and CEO Jim Pauley in the announcement.
“Their commitment to innovation, training, and outreach has contributed to measurable gains in public safety, including a reported 64 percent reduction in fire deaths per 100,000 people since 2021,” he says.
The ADCDA was selected for its “comprehensive and sustained commitment to safety innovation, risk reduction and capacity building across the United Arab Emirates,” according to the NFPA announcement.
Of particular note is the authority’s three-year certification program, developed in collaboration with NFPA, to provide advanced training for engineers, inspectors, and hazardous materials specialists. This initiative exemplifies ADCDA’s investment in workforce development and operational excellence.
NFPA’s Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem “emphasizes eight key components that must work together to protect people and property. ADCDA has taken a system-wide approach to address policy, enforcement, investment, education and emergency response, serving as a model of safety leadership in the Middle East and globally.”
