Dubai Police targets 6.4-minute land rescue response time in 2026

Brigadier Pilot Trainer Ali Mohammed Faraj Al Muhairi, Director of the General Department of Transport and Rescue at Dubai Police, said the Land Rescue Department handled 9,862 reports and incidents during 2025 and the first nine months of 2026. These included 5,732 reports and incidents in 2025 and 4,130 between January and the end of September 2026. He stressed that rescue teams maintain a high level of readiness around the clock to respond to accidents and emergencies. He said the General Department of Transport and Rescue aims to achieve an average emergency response time of 6.4 minutes in 2026 through the deployment of teams and the smart positioning of patrols and vehicles. This will help speed up arrival at incident sites and improve the effectiveness of rescue operations. Al Muhairi said the most common incidents handled by land rescue teams involved vehicle accidents on external roads, children trapped inside rooms and vehicles, and weather-related emergencies. He noted that response methods have evolved in recent years through improvements in predictive and proactive reporting. Technology Al Muhairi said Dubai Police employs artificial intelligence and advanced technology in land rescue operations, including drones that have helped responders manage complex incidents and reach people trapped in difficult terrain. Sensors are also used in areas affected by earthquakes and floods to locate people trapped beneath rubble. He added that the department has been equipped with advanced vehicles capable of overcoming obstacles and reaching hard-to-access locations. It has also been provided with portable electric rescue equipment designed to reach people trapped in confined spaces. Regarding preparedness for major incidents and adverse weather, Al Muhairi said land rescue teams are fully prepared to deal with multiple emergencies occurring at the same time, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and extreme weather. He said the alert level is raised to 100%, with joint operations rooms activated and specialised vehicles prepared to deal with high water levels, reach affected areas and assist those in need. He added that complex operations requiring the involvement of multiple rescue teams are managed through precise coordination protocols. These include joint command-and-control mechanisms and integration with central operations rooms to ensure organised field interventions and effective emergency response. Al Muhairi said lessons learned from previous weather events have helped develop improved response plans for the most affected areas. These measures include updating the locations of rescue teams and increasing the number of field units in vulnerable locations to strengthen response capabilities during exceptional weather conditions. Regarding workforce development, Al Muhairi said the department runs specialised training programmes and regular assessments for personnel, including female staff. It also sends members to obtain internationally accredited qualifications in advanced search and rescue fields to enhance professional skills and operational capabilities. Discussing incidents in desert and rugged areas, Al Muhairi said the most common reports involve vehicles becoming stranded in deep sand dunes, travellers getting lost in mountainous areas, and injuries resulting from falls in remote or difficult terrain. He warned that some accidents are caused by risky behaviour, including failing to inform relatives of intended destinations, entering rugged areas without adequate equipment and driving recklessly on sand dunes. He stressed the importance of following safety procedures, taking advantage of awareness campaigns and using emergency and tracking applications, particularly during camping and desert trips. These measures help reduce accidents and make it easier to locate people in danger. Coordination On coordination with other agencies, Al Muhairi said cooperation between the Land Rescue Department, ambulance teams, Civil Defence and other authorities during major incidents is carried out through the unified incident command system. This ensures clear distribution of responsibilities and faster joint decision-making, improving the efficiency of field responses. He urged the public to follow instructions during emergencies, contact emergency services immediately and avoid moving injured people except in cases of absolute necessity. He also warned against actions that could hinder rescue efforts or expose casualties to additional risks, particularly gathering around accident sites and obstructing rescue and ambulance vehicles. Al Muhairi said the Land Rescue Department has achieved significant milestones in recent years, including saving many lives, reducing average response times to 6.4 minutes and enhancing operational capabilities and rescue equipment. He added that the department's strategic targets for 2030 include achieving world-class response times by increasing the number of rescue p