- Abu Dhabi introduces the UAE’s first mandatory NFPA certification requirement for fire protection plan examiners.
- Engineering professionals will need the NFPA Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE) credential from September 2026.
- Framework aims to strengthen engineering competency and improve the quality and consistency of fire protection system reviews.
Supported by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the framework is the first of its kind in the UAE and will apply to professionals responsible for designing fire protection systems and submitting preliminary engineering plans for Civil Defence approval.
From September 2026, engineering consultancy offices seeking to submit fire protection system designs in Abu Dhabi will be required to ensure relevant professionals hold the CFPE certification.
To achieve the qualification, engineers will complete more than 47 hours of NFPA-delivered learning, including codes training programmes, practical scenarios and test preparation.
Mike Brunzell, Vice President of Global Business Development at NFPA, said: “Professional competency is one of the most important pillars of effective fire and life safety. The CFPE programme provides engineers with the specialised knowledge and skills needed to review fire and life safety protection systems in line with internationally recognised NFPA standards. Through this initiative, Abu Dhabi is reinforcing the role of qualified professionals in protecting people, property and critical infrastructure, while setting a new benchmark for excellence in fire protection engineering across the region.”
Professionals who meet the ADCDA requirement will receive an NFPA certificate, a digital badge through Credly and inclusion in the association’s online certification directory.
According to NFPA, the initiative represents an investment in engineering capability and the long-term resilience of the UAE’s built environment by establishing a formal pathway to internationally recognised fire protection qualifications.
The framework also aligns with the principles of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem, which emphasises the importance of skilled professionals, effective regulation, code implementation and enforcement, education and investment in reducing fire and life safety risks.
ADCDA’s work in this area was recognised internationally in 2025 when it received the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem Global Influencer Award during the NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. The award recognised the authority’s leadership in safety innovation, workforce development, risk reduction and implementation of the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem framework.
NFPA said the new certification requirement will further strengthen the competency of specialist engineering professionals while improving the quality, consistency and compliance of fire protection system review processes across Abu Dhabi.
