The Newest NCEMA 7000 Standard in the UAE Clarifies Business Continuity Management Systems

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently updated its National Standard for Business Continuity Management System, also known as AE/SCNS/NCEMA 7000, and I was involved in its development.

By strengthening business continuity in the UAE and assisting enterprises in crisis and disruption planning, this standard aims to benefit society.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) was established by the UAE in 2007 with the purpose of increasing the UAE's ability to respond to emergencies and crises for public and private entities.

The first standard, AE/HSC 7000:2012, was released by NCEMA in 2012, and it was updated in 2015, with the third and most recent version following in 2021.

This standard, like others around the world, prioritizes operational resilience over plan-building and process documenting. The standard depends on business continuity management systems (BCMS) principles and practices to improve business continuity performance appropriate to each organization's specific environment and other considerations.

NCEMA 7000:2021 UAE aligns with ISO 22301 but includes additional guidelines and content changes to aid increase usability.

Why is NCEMA 7000:2021 Important?

NCEMA funded the creation of this business continuity standard to assist government agencies and their public partners:

• Protect against and lessen the frequency of disruptions.
• Prepare for interruptions, respond to them, and recover from them.
• Facilitate effective implementation in accordance with organizational priorities.
• Improve operational resilience and national stability
• The purpose is to guarantee that organizations have the capability to continue important operations in the event of an interruption, to protect supply chains for vital activities, and to build effective continuity plans that allow them to resume operations and return to regular operations as soon as feasible.

An Examination of the Framework

NCEMA 7000:2021 UAE provides a foundation for business continuity for all businesses, regardless of size or complexity. It provides key areas to assist firms in developing a business continuity program that is aligned with international standards, and company culture and is embedded in day-to-day operations.

The framework outlines:

• Roles and duties in the management system
• System management planning 
• System management planning 

The standard provides organizations with direction as they establish or mature their business continuity management system (BCMS), as well as determine priorities, scope, and objectives. It offers additional advice on how to provide organizational support for a BCMS, such as making sure the appropriate individuals are involved, carrying out their tasks and responsibilities with competence, and being aware of the significance of business continuity for operational resilience.