UAE: Government and media should work together during crises to prevent spread of rumours, says NCEMA

Case study on last year's Jebel Ali Port fire key topic during interactive session

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), in cooperation with the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), Wednesday organised an interactive session to discuss case studies and models for effective management of communication and media during crises and emergency situations.

Titled ‘Strategic Crisis Communication and Media Management’, the key highlight of the session was a case study on the fire that broke out at the Jebel Ali Port last year.

The study demonstrated how effective coordination and close cooperation between various teams and government departments in Dubai enabled the dissemination of accurate information across media platforms, which in turn prevented rumours and misinformation.

Obaid Rashid Al Hosan Al Shamsi, Vice President of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, said that specialised teams need to be trained and detailed crisis plans need to be developed to avoid reactive responses.

According to him, management of media is one of the key factors behind the effective management of crises and emergencies of all magnitudes.

"With the UAE’s emergence as a global hub for various sectors, it is vital that we maintain the highest level of strategic preparedness based on simulations of various potential crises. We need to put in place comprehensive plans to deal with all dimensions of a crisis.”

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office commended the exceptional role played by NCEMA in addressing crisis situations and safeguarding the security and stability of UAE society through effective coordination with government agencies.

“We are keen to share our expertise and experiences in successful strategic crisis communication and media management with various local and federal media offices," Al Marri said.