ABU DHABI: In the presence of His Highness Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, honoured high-achieving Union teams during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2026 in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Saif also awarded the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Medal to the honoured teams.

The Union teams were recognised for demonstrating an outstanding national model of continuous readiness to protect the UAE community and safeguard national achievements. They displayed an exceptional ability to unite and coordinate efforts and respond swiftly and effectively to various scenarios. The teams were selected for their high level of readiness and positive impact on protecting the community and advancing national achievements.

The ceremony was attended by His Highness Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah; His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah; His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; and His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, alongside dignitaries, ministers and senior officials.

Sheikh Saif said the exceptional performance of the awarded national teams reflected the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to prioritise the security and stability of the UAE community as the foundation of all national achievements.

He said the teams had earned the highest accolades for their readiness and proactive efforts to ensure daily life continued uninterrupted across the UAE under all circumstances.

“The UAE leadership has set a clear standard for all institutions and entities: that every individual must be able to live their daily life with peace of mind, regardless of the situation, and that protecting human life is a responsibility we all share,” Sheikh Saif said.

He added that the UAE firmly believes in maintaining readiness ahead of exceptional circumstances through proactive planning, continuous training and anticipation of risks. Being prepared in advance helps the country navigate challenges steadily, he said, as demonstrated by the Union teams, which drew inspiration from the spirit of the Union and operated as one integrated team with amplified impact.

Sheikh Saif congratulated the honoured teams, praising their efforts and the benchmark they had set.

“The excellence of Union teams is measured by their swift response, agility and efficiency in addressing various challenges. It is also measured by the impact they create and the trust they inspire across the community,” he said.

The honoured teams included the Armed Forces team, the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) team, the aviation teams in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the national cybersecurity team and the national logistics network team.

Armed Forces

Guided by the UAE leadership’s vision and directives, the Armed Forces have reinforced their position as a model of readiness, efficiency and professionalism, serving as a shield for the nation’s security and national achievements.

Amid recent regional challenges, the military activated its defence systems to address various threats, successfully intercepting 3,617 aerial threats, including 705 ballistic missiles, 37 cruise missiles and 2,875 drones.

Through coordination with security authorities and integration of roles to support early warning systems and rapid response, these efforts protected critical infrastructure and strategic locations, safeguarded the community and mitigated the impact of military escalation on national security.

NCEMA

The National Operations Centre team at NCEMA played a leading role in coordinating and overseeing national efforts and supporting joint decision-making to ensure the continuity of essential services.

NCEMA developed a unified national crisis management model that brought together federal and local entities and the private sector to strengthen readiness and institutional integration.

Through this approach, NCEMA managed national communications through official alerts and safety guides, helping safeguard the community and strengthen overall national readiness and security.

Aviation

The aviation teams in Abu Dhabi and Dubai demonstrated exceptional dedication to maintaining operations across national airports and ensuring smooth and safe travel.

Despite recent airspace restrictions, airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai kept the UAE connected to the global network. Dubai airports welcomed nearly 6 million passengers and handled more than 32,000 flights and 213,000 tonnes of cargo between late February and late April 2026.

By late June, Zayed International Airport was serving more than 93,000 passengers a day across approximately 500 flights and is expected to match its record-breaking 2025 traffic levels.

The Etihad Airways crisis and emergency response team led coordination efforts with authorities and strategic partners to ensure uninterrupted flight operations. The carrier transported 2.1 million passengers in September 2026, up 10 per cent, across 119 destinations.

Cybersecurity

The national cybersecurity team demonstrated its capability and readiness to tackle cyber threats through continuous, coordinated efforts reflecting the efficiency of the UAE’s cyber defence systems.

By establishing a unified national defence line in collaboration with the Cyber Security Council and relevant authorities, the team neutralised an average of 700,000 cyberattacks a day recently.

Around-the-clock monitoring, analysis and response measures helped ensure the uninterrupted operation of vital sectors and strengthened the protection of national digital assets.

National logistics network

The national logistics network team worked to mitigate the impact of recent global shifts on local markets, helping ensure the availability of food supplies, pharmaceuticals and strategic commodities.

By facilitating trade through ports, land and alternative routes, the team strengthened supply chain resilience by supporting trade through east coast ports, including Fujairah and Khorfakkan.

The team’s efforts helped maintain the flow and availability of supply chains and strategic goods from February 2026. Container handling across east coast ports grew 316 per cent to 1.8 million TEUs.