Rabdan Academy

Rabdan Academy is a government-owned higher education institution established in 2013 under Law No. 7 issued by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former President of the United Arab Emirates.

Located in Abu Dhabi, the academy specializes in education, training, and research focused on the Safety, Security, Defence, Emergency Preparedness, and Crisis Management (SSDEC) fields. It is accredited by the UAE’s Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and has gained a reputation as a world-class institution offering dual academic and vocational programs that blend theoretical knowledge with practical skills.

The academy provides a wide range of academic programs from diploma to master's levels, covering disciplines such as Business Continuity Management, Integrated Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Defence and Security, Policing and Security Leadership, Systems Engineering Specializing in Defence, and Intelligence Analysis.

Rabdan Academy also offers professional development and vocational training designed to meet evolving regional and global security challenges. It emphasizes practical experience and real-world readiness, with students often spending part of their studies abroad to gain international exposure.

Rabdan Academy has received prestigious recognitions such as a "5-star" rating in Teaching and Employability categories under the QS Stars University Rating System and became the first higher education institution in the UAE to earn the Institutional Excellence Certificate “Validated by EFQM” from the European Foundation for Quality Management.

The academy is actively involved in research and innovation related to policing, security, defense, business continuity, and disaster management. In 2024, it launched the Rabdan Security and Defence Institute (RSDI), a specialized think tank dedicated to high-level research and consultation in security and defense.

The academy is led by Rear Admiral James Morse, a retired senior Royal Navy officer, who has emphasized the importance of preparing the younger generation for future leadership roles in intelligence, police, and security sectors. Faculty members have included notable experts such as Professor Joel Hayward, an internationally recognized scholar of strategic thought. Rabdan Academy plays a key role in supporting the UAE’s national vision for a safer and more resilient future through education, research, and capacity building in the strategic domains of safety and security.