UAE Honours Five Union Teams for Exceptional National Readiness at Government Annual Meetings 2026

ABU DHABI, UAE – November 9, 2026: The United Arab Emirates has honoured five high-performing national teams for their outstanding contributions to national security, emergency preparedness, aviation operations, cybersecurity and supply chain resilience during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2026 in Abu Dhabi.

His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, presented the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Medal to the recognised teams in the presence of senior UAE leadership, including Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The recognition highlights the teams' ability to coordinate across government institutions, respond rapidly to challenges and protect the UAE community while ensuring essential services continue operating.

Five Teams Recognised for Outstanding Performance

The honoured teams represented five key areas of national readiness:

1. UAE Armed Forces: Recognised for protecting national security and intercepting 3,617 aerial threats, including 705 ballistic missiles, 37 cruise missiles and 2,875 drones, amid regional challenges.

2. National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA): Honoured for coordinating national emergency responses, supporting joint decision-making and maintaining essential services through cooperation between federal and local authorities.

3. Aviation Teams in Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Recognised for maintaining airport operations and international connectivity despite airspace restrictions. Dubai airports handled nearly six million passengers and more than 32,000 flights between late February and late April 2026.

4. National Cybersecurity Team: Recognised for strengthening the country's digital defences and neutralising an average of 700,000 cyberattacks daily through coordinated monitoring and response efforts.

5. National Logistics Network Team: Honoured for maintaining the availability of food, medicines and strategic commodities. Container handling across eastern UAE ports increased by 316 per cent to 1.8 million TEUs.

Sheikh Saif Highlights Importance of National Preparedness

During the ceremony, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed praised the teams for their professionalism, coordination and commitment to protecting the country's achievements.

He emphasised that the UAE's approach to national preparedness is built on proactive planning, continuous training and anticipating potential risks.

He also highlighted the importance of ensuring that residents can continue their daily lives with confidence and peace of mind, regardless of challenging circumstances.

According to Sheikh Saif, the achievements of these teams reflect the UAE leadership's vision of making community security and stability a fundamental priority.

A Unified Approach to National Resilience

The recognition demonstrates the importance of cooperation between government institutions in strengthening the UAE's ability to respond to emergencies and changing global conditions.

From defence and aviation to cybersecurity and logistics, the awarded teams have contributed to maintaining essential national operations and protecting the country's strategic interests.

The UAE Government Annual Meetings 2026 provide a platform to review government performance, strengthen institutional cooperation and advance the country's long-term development priorities.