A qualitative approach to investigate emergency preparedness state for the built environment in the UAE
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 1 October 2020
Issue publication date: 16 July 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Emergency preparedness (EP) is one of the crucial phases of the disaster management cycle for the built environment. The body of knowledge, therefore, reports on different preparedness standards adopted by developed countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), Canada, Japan and Australia. Other countries, however, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (in the absence of its preparedness framework), have long adapted the UK preparedness standards. This has called for this study to investigate the state of EP practices in the UAE to identify the limitations and challenges it has been facing during its preparedness phase when adopting the UK preparedness standards.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative methods of data collection and documentation with the content analysis were adopted to identify the barriers faced by the preparedness phase of emergency management (EM) in the UAE. A Pilot study was therefore conducted to validate eight key elements of the EP phase identified from the literature. The state of EP phase and the extent to which the eight key elements of EP elements were practiced and the barriers in their implementation in the UAE were explored through interviews at federal (National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority) and local levels (local team of crisis and emergency management).
Findings
The study identified eight key elements of the EP phase and the associated barriers related to their implementation in the UAE. The barriers were ranked based on their severity by interviewing experts at both federal and local levels.
Practical implications
This paper addresses the need to investigate the state of the EP phase, its key elements and the barriers faced during its implementation in the UAE.
Originality/value
Due to the absence of any EP frameworks or systems in the UAE, this paper aims to validate the EP elements identified by adopting a qualitative approach.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to portray their gratitude to the staff and experts in (NCEMA) and the Ministry of Interior in the UAE for their contribution to this research in terms of sharing their time, expertise and knowledge in this area. Since the findings of this study, the UAE has moved forward with its emergency management standards and preparedness phase by applying new measures of early warning systems. However, there has not been any academic research to report on the impact of the current emergency management standards in the UAE, in response to the new emergency management measures that have been induced by (NCEMA) in the UAE. Future research will, therefore, consider assessing the impact of the new emergency management standards on the built environment in relation to the multicultural community behavior in UAE.
Citation
Rashid Alteneiji, H., Ahmed, V. and Saboor, S. (2021), "A qualitative approach to investigate emergency preparedness state for the built environment in the UAE", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 28 No. 7, pp. 2005-2022. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-05-2020-0296
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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