Muscat – The Omani Search and Rescue Team, operating under the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA), has been awarded the ‘Heavy’ Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) classification by the UN’s International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), marking a major milestone for the sultanate’s emergency response capabilities. The certification was announced on Wednesday following […]
Muscat – The Omani Search and Rescue Team, operating under the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA), has been awarded the ‘Heavy’ Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) classification by the UN’s International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), marking a major milestone for the sultanate’s emergency response capabilities.
The certification was announced on Wednesday following a rigorous four-day international evaluation, culminating in a ceremony held under the patronage of H E Sultan bin Salim al Habsi, Minister of Finance.
Col Mohammed bin Hamood al Mahmoudi, Head of the Omani Search and Rescue Team, said the achievement is the result of “two years of dedicated preparations, qualification and specialised training” to meet the most demanding international benchmarks.
He added that the team’s upgraded status enhances its ability to save lives anywhere – in Oman or internationally – and consolidates the sultanate’s standing as a nation capable of delivering advanced humanitarian and life-saving services.
During the ceremony, Gen Sulaiman Ali al Husseini, Chairman ofCDAA, received the INSARAG certificate and flag, symbolising the team’s entry into the global roster of heavy-class USAR teams. The new classification confirms the team’s readiness to operate an integrated system that includes field command, technical search and rescue, emergency medical care and full logistical support.
The evaluation process included several realistic disaster simulations, such as building collapse and earthquake scenarios, testing the team’s ability to manage incident sites, execute rescue operations, operate command-and-control centres and coordinate supporting units.
The upgrade from medium to heavy classification, conducted between December 7 and 10, is part of a broader national strategy to boost Oman’s emergency response efficiency. The Omani team was established in 2007 to meet growing national needs arising from earthquakes, severe weather events and incidents in rugged mountainous areas.
The team currently comprises 152 specialised members drawn from the Royal Army of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman, Royal Oman Police, the Military and Security Medical City, and Ministry of Health.
The team received its first international accreditation at intermediate level in 2012, followed by a successful reassessment in 2017. It has since improved its global profile through participation in major international relief missions – including an 11-day deployment in Nepal after a devastating earthquake and a 15-day mission in Türkiye, where the team assisted in rescuing victims from collapsed structures in cooperation with global response units.
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