Dubai Police adopt 'DRE' project to enhance readiness and response

Dubai: Dubai Police have adopted the Disaster Rescue Equipment (DRE) project, which includes developing and enhancing the fleet of heavy rescue machines and specialised boats. This strategic step aims to raise readiness and preparedness to deal with the repercussions of climate change, natural disasters and major accidents, and to enhance the speed of response to emergencies, contributing to the protection of lives and property and consolidating Dubai's position as a global model in security, safety and crisis and disaster management.

The project includes providing and developing specialised rescue machines and boats, enhancing the operational capabilities of rescue teams in dealing with various emergency scenarios, especially tropical conditions, floods, torrents and collapses, and reaching affected areas that are difficult to access using traditional machines.

This comes as part of Dubai Police's continuous efforts to develop an integrated emergency response system by employing the latest technologies and specialised equipment, raising the efficiency of field operations, and enhancing the ability to deal with complex accidents and challenges resulting from exceptional climatic phenomena.

Brigadier Instructor Pilot Ali Mohammed Faraj Al Muhairi, Director of the General Department of Transport and Rescue, affirmed that the "Disaster Rescue Equipment (DRE)" project embodies Dubai Police's proactive vision in developing operational capabilities and readiness. “It prepares the Force to face future challenges, foremost among them the potential repercussions of climate change and the accompanying exceptional weather phenomena,” he added.

Brig. Al Muhairi stated: "Climate change and the severe weather it can bring, including floods and flash floods, require us to keep developing our field capabilities and investing in advanced rescue equipment that ensures rapid access to those affected and efficient, professional handling of all situations, rooted in our permanent priority of protecting lives and preserving the safety of community members."

For his part, Brigadier Khaled Al Hammadi, Deputy Director of the General Department of Transport and Rescue, explained that the project represents a significant leap in enhancing the capabilities of Dubai Police rescue teams. "Providing specialised machines and boats enables them to deal with a wide range of emergency scenarios, whether in flooded areas or rugged sites affected by collapses, as well as carrying out evacuation and rescue operations, removing obstacles, and towing stuck vehicles. This contributes to reducing response time, raising the efficiency of field intervention, and preventing human and material losses," he added.

He noted that the project is not limited to increasing the size of the fleet but focuses on developing operational capabilities and potential. "This ensures the flexible deployment of rescue teams, continuity of services in exceptional circumstances, and stronger integration and coordination with the entities concerned with emergency, crisis and disaster management," he continued.

Brig. Khaled Al Hammadi stressed that Dubai Police continues to adopt innovative solutions and develop the rescue system according to the best global practices, enhancing community security and safety and strengthening the emirate's ability to deal efficiently and proactively with various challenges.

The project includes developing a fleet of heavy rescue machines with high mobility across difficult terrain and affected areas, including specialised trucks with four-wheel and six-wheel drive systems equipped to handle environments that demand exceptional operational capabilities.

These machines are distinguished by their ability to reach areas that traditional vehicles find difficult to access and to cross water accumulations and obstacles. They can also be fitted with specialised equipment for lifting debris, removing obstacles and towing stuck vehicles, helping to open paths for emergency teams and speed up the rescue of trapped persons.

The project also enhances the ability to transport equipment and personnel to accident sites and supports evacuation and rescue operations in affected areas, ensuring continuity of field operations and raising readiness to face various scenarios.

As part of developing response capabilities for flood and torrent-related incidents, the project includes boats dedicated to supporting water rescue and evacuation operations and reaching people stranded in flooded areas, especially sites that land machines cannot reach.

The boats help speed up field deployment, expand the geographical coverage of rescue teams and support safe evacuation operations in exceptional weather conditions, enhancing Dubai Police's ability to respond to simultaneous reports at multiple locations.

The DRE project reflects Dubai Police's drive to build a more flexible, efficient and sustainable rescue system based on proactive preparedness and the development of technical and operational capabilities, keeping pace with future climatic challenges.

The project also supports efforts to strengthen institutional readiness and integration between field teams and the competent authorities, and contributes to achieving the highest levels of response speed and incident management efficiency, in line with Dubai's direction to enhance quality of life and consolidate its position among the world's safest and most future-ready cities.