Dubai: Affirming the global leadership of the UAE and Dubai in the fire and safety sector and their advanced capabilities in this regard, the UAE will host the third edition of the ‘World Fire Congress’ in 2028, becoming the first country in the Middle East to host the international gathering of fire, rescue, and civil defence leaders, following the United States of America (Washington) and the United Kingdom (London).The official handover ceremony for hosting the next edition in Dubai took place during the World Fire Congress 2026 in London, in the presence of His Excellency Lieutenant General Expert Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Civil Defence. During the ceremony, His Excellency received the ‘Hosting Hammer,’ which is the established tradition symbolising the transfer of hosting rights to the city chosen to convene the next edition.Active partnerThe announcement of the UAE as the third country to host the global event reflects the international confidence in the UAE’s capabilities in the fields of fire, rescue, protection, and safety, while strengthening its presence as an active partner in promoting international cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and inspiring future solutions for safer and more resilient communities while safeguarding lives and property.The World Fire Congress is an international platform held every two years, bringing together leaders of fire and emergency services, government representatives, researchers, experts, and partners from around the world, with the aim of strengthening international cooperation, exchanging knowledge, discussing the most prominent challenges facing the fire and safety sector, and foreseeing solutions and future directions capable of keeping pace with rapidly evolving risks worldwide.Key topicsThe World Fire Congress 2026 in London witnessed deliberations on a range of topics of global significance, including readiness and responsiveness to major incidents and disasters, the safety of buildings and facilities, emerging risks, disasters associated with climate change and extreme weather, and the health and safety of firefighters, in addition to the use of technology and artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency and capabilities of fire and emergency services.His Excellency Lt. Gen. Expert Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi stated: “During our participation in the Congress, we discussed the importance of readiness and proactiveness in addressing the rapid transformations that cities are witnessing today in light of increasing population growth, urban expansion, and the growing complexity in the design of buildings, facilities, and renewable energy systems.“We work in a sector that brooks no delays, and our responsibility towards communities requires us to maintain the highest levels of readiness, understand risks, and anticipate them before they occur, while placing firefighter safety at the core of the development and response system.”Proactive strategiesHis Excellency added that the achievements of the UAE, and Dubai in particular, in the fire and safety sector are driven by the leadership’s vision and its approach based on proactiveness, leadership, and a focus on shaping the future. He pointed out that the UAE being chosen to host the third edition of the World Fire Congress embodies international confidence in its advanced model for the sector.The 2028 edition in Dubai is expected to mark a pivotal milestone in the journey of the World Fire Congress, bringing together leading figures and experts from the sector from countries around the world to exchange knowledge and best practices, foresee the future of the fire and rescue sector, and strengthen international cooperation in developing innovative solutions to address current and future risks. This will further consolidate the UAE’s position as a global hub for shaping the future of fire protection and safety and contribute to building an international system that is more prepared, proactive, and capable of protecting communities.The World Fire Congress marked its inaugural edition in 2024 in Washington, D.C., with the participation of representatives from 54 countries. This year’s edition, held in London, brought together participants from more than 60 countries. Participants at the inaugural edition agreed to hold the Congress every two years, with hosting duties rotating among countries around the world.
