Unified School Safety Guide Sets Emergency Protocols in Abu Dhabi

A unified school safety guide has been issued in Abu Dhabi to standardise emergency preparedness and response across schools, covering the remainder of the current academic year and extending into 2026. Developed by the Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre in collaboration with the Department of Education and Knowledge and the Abu Dhabi Media Office, the guide forms part of the ‘Our Community is Ready’ campaign. For parents, the guidance centres on compliance with official directives, maintaining updated contact information with schools and avoiding the circulation of unverified reports. During alerts, parents are advised not to send children to school until an official all clear is issued, to avoid gathering near school premises and to use designated pick-up points when required. Educators are instructed to be familiar with emergency exits and assembly areas, conduct regular briefings for students and manage classroom response during incidents. This includes halting lessons, maintaining calm, following evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions and accounting for all students, including those of determination and those with medical needs. Safety and security officers are responsible for designating safe zones, activating alert systems, managing entry and exit points and conducting drills and staff training. The guidance also outlines procedures for suspending in-person learning. Students are assigned responsibilities related to personal safety, including following staff instructions, identifying exits and assembly areas, reporting unusual behaviour and refraining from sharing information or images during incidents. For school transport, drivers and supervisors are required to enforce boarding protocols, ensure seatbelt use and maintain order during travel. In the event of an incident, they are instructed to stop in a safe location, guide evacuation or sheltering procedures and communicate immediately with schools and relevant authorities.