The United Arab Emirates strengthened its capacity to address CBRN-related crime through a Mock Trial. The exercise enhanced preparedness, interagency cooperation, and judicial response under the European Union CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative.
As chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats continue to grow in scale and complexity, countries across the Middle East, the Gulf region, and the wider international community intensify efforts to reinforce their capacities to prevent, detect, and respond. An immersive CBRN Mock Trial exercise convened in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 21 to 24 April 2026 strengthened judicial and investigative capabilities of practitioners from across the country.
Co-funded by the European Union and the UAE Attorney General’s Office, and organised in the framework of the EU Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) Initiative, the exercise enhanced national and regional capacities to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate crimes involving CBRN materials.
Supported and implemented by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), the scenario‑based training equipped the UAE with the skills to respond effectively to emerging security challenges.
A Central Component of a Comprehensive Capacity‑Building Programme
The Abu Dhabi Mock Trial formed a key element of the multi‑phase programme “From the CBRN Crime Scene to Courtroom and from Courtroom to Classroom.” Developed in partnership with UNICRI, the programme provides a structured pathway for practitioners to translate theoretical knowledge into operational and practical competence.
Hosted by the Federal Supreme Court of the United Arab Emirates, the exercise took place in an authentic courtroom setting. Unlike traditional classroom‑based instruction, the Abu Dhabi exercise brought together a diverse group of professionals, including prosecutors, judges, investigators, law enforcement officers, forensic specialists, laboratory experts, and other relevant stakeholders. Participants worked through fictitious case scenarios reflective of incidents that could occur in any national context, performing tasks aligned with their real‑world responsibilities. This hands‑on approach tested interagency cooperation, strengthened technical and legal skills, and enabled immediate expert feedback.
Multidisciplinary National Legal Frameworks and Dual Perspectives
Participants were organized into multidisciplinary teams, each assigned a distinct mock criminal case involving a chemical or radiological/nuclear incident. Each team also served as defence counsel for another case, encouraging participants to consider both prosecutorial and defence strategies. Such exposure is essential for cultivating balanced, well‑prepared judicial actors capable of navigating the complexities inherent in CBRN crime.
A defining strength of the Abu Dhabi training was its firm grounding in the domestic legal system of the United Arab Emirates. All scenarios and simulations were aligned with national legal frameworks, ensuring the training was realistic and directly applicable to professional practice, while reinforcing long‑term sustainability and relevance.
Regional Leadership and Ensuring Sustainability Through Continued Training
The success of the Abu Dhabi event has already attracted significant regional and international attention. The United Arab Emirates has expressed its willingness to serve as a regional training hub for the Arabic‑speaking world in strengthening CBRN investigation, prosecution, and adjudication capabilities. Numerous countries have also expressed interest in accessing the training modules and adapting the methodology to their own legal and institutional contexts. This demand underscores the value of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative’s bottom‑up, context‑specific approach, which tailors support to national needs while promoting global cooperation.
The Abu Dhabi Mock Trial marks an important step forward in strengthening regional CBRN safety and security. By investing in practical, legislation‑aligned training for legal, judicial, and investigative professionals, the EU and its partners are helping countries build robust, coordinated response capabilities. Through this initiative, nations are better equipped to confront the evolving threats posed by CBRN crime with professionalism, precision, and resilience, contributing to a safer and more secure international community.
Graduation Ceremony for the First Cohort and Next Steps
The Mock Trial marked the fourth stage of the comprehensive five‑part training programme, complementing earlier modules including a Tabletop Exercise, a CBRN Criminalisation Workshop, and a module on Building a Case for Prosecution, covering the full cycle “from CBRN crime scene to courtroom.” A total of 45 trainees successfully completed the programme and received certification recognising their capacity to address CBRN‑related incidents.
The official graduation ceremony for the first cohort was held under the patronage of the Attorney General, with the participation of senior national representatives and international partners, including the Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union and the United Nations Resident Coordinator.
In the words of the Chargé d’affaires of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Iñigo Febrel: "We celebrate today a promising cohort of graduates who have successfully completed this training pathway. You represent a vital pillar in advancing national capacities. Your knowledge and experience will contribute not only to strengthening preparedness, investigation, and prosecution of CBRN-related crimes within the UAE, but also to supporting capacity-building efforts more broadly across the GCC and the wider region. In this sense, you are not only practitioners, but also ambassadors of this important field."
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the UN Resident Coordinator for the UAE, Bérangère Boëll, said:
"What stands out in this initiative is not only the depth of the training, but the broader purpose it serves. At its core, this programme is about strengthening systems — ensuring that institutions are prepared, coordinated, and able to respond to complex risks in a manner grounded in the rule of law.
This speaks directly to the priorities of the United Nations."
To ensure continuity and long‑term sustainability, a Train‑the‑Trainer programme will soon be launched at UNICRI Headquarters in Turin (Italy). This next phase will take participants “from courtroom to classroom,” enabling selected pratictioners to deliver future courses domestically and supporting sustainable national capacity-building and knowledge transfer.
Background
This action was funded by the European Union and implemented through the EU CBRN CoE. The training forms part of the programme “From CBRN Crime Scene to Courtroom,” which[AL1] aims to enhance the ability of national authorities to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate crimes involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials. The programme supports the development of specialised legal expertise and sustainable training capacities within national institutions.
To know more: EU Global Threats Programme – EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative
[AL1]To update
