The 39th Cospas-Sarsat Joint Committee meeting has commenced in Abu Dhabi, serving as a vital platform for international collaboration aimed at enhancing global emergency response systems. Organized by the National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC) of the National Guard, the event will continue until June 5 under the patronage of Major General Staff Pilot Saleh Mohammed bin Mejren Al Ameri, Commander of the National Guard.

Credit: ARN News

This meeting marks the first time the UAE has hosted the event, attracting over 200 experts from 45 countries. Participating organizations include the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

During his opening remarks, Colonel Staff Pilot Rashed Al Naqbi, Manager of the NSRC, highlighted the UAE’s dedication to building strategic partnerships and sharing expertise with international organizations to improve life-saving efforts and response effectiveness. Allan Knox, Head of the Cospas-Sarsat delegation and Chair of the 39th Joint Committee Meeting, expressed confidence that the meeting’s outcomes would enhance global rescue services and ultimately save more lives.

COSPAS-SARSAT is instrumental in detecting and transmitting distress signals via satellite, ensuring timely life-saving interventions. Since its establishment in 1982, the program has played a role in saving over 66 000 lives worldwide. The UAE became a member of COSPAS-SARSAT in 2009 and has actively contributed to its mission by adopting advanced standards and technologies in search and rescue operations.

The NSRC operates nine advanced ground stations and a 24/7 coordination hub. From 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, it has conducted more than 1 200 operations, including land and sea rescues, airborne evacuations, and swift responses to distress signals. The centre’s fleet of AW139 helicopters, equipped with night vision and thermal imaging capabilities, operates across five zones in the UAE, monitoring critical maritime and terrestrial distress frequencies to ensure prompt and coordinated responses.

In line with the UAE’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the NSRC incorporates AI technologies to analyze distress signals in real time, which helps to further decrease response times and improve accuracy. Innovations such as the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and AI-driven platforms have positioned the UAE as a leader in next-generation emergency response solutions.