Aswaaq, a Dubai government-owned company, said it has signed an MoU with Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) to develop co-operative public safety campaigns in high population areas across Dubai.

Aswaaq CEO Abdul Baset Al Janahi and Colonel Ahmed Al Sayegh, director advisor for Fire and Rescue Affairs of behalf of Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, head of Dubai Civil Defence, signed the agreement.

The signing of MoU reflects the desire of both organisations to enhance communication between neighborhood residents and civil security representatives. The pact is aimed at increasing awareness of community wellbeing and safety issues.

The MoU details a knowledge-sharing program in which DCD will provide aswaaq with expertise on a number of security and emergency-response measures. Part of that includes new employee-training initiatives and licensing aswaaq facilities with voluntary building-safety guidelines.

As agreed in the MoU, aswaaq will provide temporary Wafa Cards to DCD’s employees whose names and contacts will be provided by DCD.

Once the employees gain over 1000 points on their cards, they will be offered the permanent Wafa Cards. Aswaaq will also supply the main Cafeteria in DCD’s headquarters with all the needed food and dairy products.

Aswaaq will prioritize the leasing of rental spaces in its centers to DCD’s employees as well as free spaces for public events and campaigns organized by DCD.

Al Matrooshi described the agreement as an important step in the organization’s long-term strategy of developing partnerships with the business sector.

“Working in the public interest means connecting with the public at every opportunity possible,” he commented. "This MoU is the first step, and we are confident that aswaaq and DCD will be able to benefit from each other’s experiences," he added.

Al Janahi said these kinds of partnerships ultimately create a better environment for customers and the neighbourhoods in which the company operates.

"Offering DCD’s employees Wafa cards that will include special promotions and discounts is a small appreciation towards those whom we consider heroes and soldiers who are there to serve and protect our community and families," he added.-TradeArabia News Service