Dubai Civil Defence is leading a scheme to help supply essential firefighting equipment and create more fire stations around the world.
The 1 Billion Readiness project, which runs until 2027, aims to train and educate one billion people worldwide on fire prevention measures. The scheme brings together 34 countries and 16 major firefighting organisations, said Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council.
"A key component of this initiative, the Hope Convoys project will provide critical support to developing countries by supplying essential equipment and establishing fire stations to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities," Sheikh Mansoor wrote on X. "Through these initiatives, we strive to build a safer and more resilient future for all."
Vision for global safety
Lt Gen Expert Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Director General of the General Directorate of Civil Defence in Dubai, highlighted the scale and purpose of the project.
“The work on this initiative began about a year ago, aiming to raise global awareness of fire safety using simple, effective methods that engage individuals and educate them on basic safety practices,” he said. “These practices were identified through a study of the main causes of fires based on actual incidents handled.”
The efforts of firefighters have been in focus in the past week, with the impact of wildfires in Los Angeles, which have resulted in the deaths of 24 people so far.
Closer to home, the overall number of fires in the UAE fell in 2023, the most recent figures available, although official data reveals an increase in certain categories, such as in residential blazes and major incidents.
Details released by the Ministry of Interior show civil defence teams responded to 2,473 fires in 2023, down from 3,000 the previous year.
The UAE programme’s first steps included designing training courses tailored to the key causes of fires and creating awareness materials to promote safety.
A dedicated online platform developed in Dubai, allows participating countries and organisations to upload data on fire incidents, related deaths and training targets. The platform enables benchmarking and provides access to Dubai training programmes and materials on safety awareness. “This is not just about fire prevention but about creating a culture of safety that transcends borders,” Lt Gen Expert Al Matrooshi said.
The project was launched on January 1 and has already attracted 250,000 entrants online, he said. “This initiative represents the UAE’s commitment to contributing to global safety standards,” he added. “We’ve engaged countries like the USA, UK, Japan and Australia, among many others, alongside international organisations active in disaster management, to ensure a collaborative approach.”
International perspective
Chief fire officer Neil Odin, of Britain's National Fire Chiefs Council, also underscored the importance of global collaboration in fire safety. “Last year, we saw 594,000 fires across the UK in homes, workplaces and rural settings, resulting in 320 fatalities,” he said.
“While this is an improvement from the 1,000 deaths annually in the 1980s, one fire-related death is still one too many. This is an opportunity to bring our commitment to intervention and education to a global audience of one billion people.”
Joe Smith, chief executive of the National Fire Industry Association in Australia, described the scheme as “a call to arms” for global firefighting co-operation.
“In a 2023 report on fire outcomes, it was noted that fatalities and injuries increase significantly after the first four minutes and 22 seconds of a fire,” he said. “Our focus is to educate communities on responding effectively within those critical moments.”
David O’Neil, chairman of FireAid in the UK, gave an example of how collaborations could help reduce the impact of fires across the globe.
"Last year alone, we donated more than 250 fire appliances, 9,500 breathing apparatus sets and over 10,000 containers of personal protective equipment," he said. "Additionally, we trained 260 firefighters and first responders in countries like Nepal, Gambia and Ukraine.”
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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Friday
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Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
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MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
