Firefighting drones equipped with water tanks are set to take to the skies of Sharjah to help extinguish high-rise building blazes from next year.
Sharjah Civil Defence said the use of the advanced technology – due to be introduced in the first three months of 2025 – will help reduce response times and boost safety in critical emergencies where every second counts.
The UAE-based Drone First Building Services company has been working with the authority to ensure the unmanned aerial vehicles are ready for lift-off. A prototype was put through its paces in a test mission on Wednesday.
“We successfully tested the drone, and it passed the test with flying colours,” Brig Sami Al Naqbi, director general of Sharjah Civil Defence, told The National.
Primed for action
The drone soared to a height of 150 metres – equivalent to 40 floors – in just 18 seconds.
It was able to spray water up to 15 metres from its 5,000-litre tank.
“When more water is needed, the drone can be supplied from a ground-based water tank connected to the drone through a hose,” Brig Al Naqbi added.
Fitted with sophisticated sensors, the flying firefighters can help officers on the ground to identify the source and intensity of the heat, especially in large areas.
“It will provide us with immediate information about the source of the fire, the concentration of the flames, and their heat levels, enabling us to take the necessary actions much faster,” said Brig Al Naqbi.
“This will significantly contribute to reducing the severity of fire incidents, ensuring the safety of everyone involved.”
Racing to the rescue
One of the new technology’s biggest benefits is reducing response times. The sooner emergency teams can arrive at an incident, the greater chance they have of controlling fires and potentially saving lives.
“Fire trucks can face delays in traffic, especially given their size and the equipment they carry,” said Brig Al Naqbi.
“Add to that the time it takes firefighters to prepare the ladder which is about 30 minutes.”
In contrast, the drone can be transported in a small vehicle and launched directly to the site.
Brig Al Naqbi said the drones are still undergoing refinements to further improve their performance.
“The drone is fully operational, but we are working on improving certain details, such as the diameter of the water hose, using fire-extinguishing powder and increasing water pressure.
“We’re also exploring the possibility of increasing the drone’s height limit from 40 floors to 60 or 70 floors to make it even more efficient in high-rise fires.”
Two drones will initially be deployed, with more to be added as required.
“The drone, weighing 27 kilograms, can be powered either by battery or electricity and can operate for 12 hours on a single charge,” the senior officer said.
Its also equipped with lights, sensors, and an emergency parachute system that deploys if the drone malfunctions, preventing it from crashing to the ground.
Cost-effective strategy
Brig Al Naqbi said the drone’s efficiency in reaching greater heights far surpasses the current 60-metre limit of the authority’s firefighting ladder, which costs about Dh5.5 million.
“This confirms that investing in drones is not only a more efficient approach to firefighting but also cost-effective,” he said.
Reflecting on a previous incident, Brig Al Naqbi shared an example of how drone technology would have made a significant difference.
“For instance, if drones had been used during the fire at the Abbco Tower in Sharjah four years ago, we could have contained the fire within one hour instead of nearly six hours,” he said.
“This technology would have allowed us to better and faster protect lives and reduce the damage to property.”
“We need to move beyond traditional methods and embrace the current advancements that give us high-precision data,” said Brig Al Naqbi.
Mohamad Ghaith Jeratly, chief executive of Drone First Building Services, which is supplying the firefighting drones and working on the upgrades, said, “Sharjah Civil Defence's vision to utilise drones in firefighting is truly forward-thinking.
“Since partnering with them two months ago, we’ve been customising the drones based on their feedback to meet the unique needs of high-rise fires in the emirate.
“Our team is focused on refining the drones’ capabilities to ensure they not only meet but exceed Sharjah Civil Defence’s expectations.
“This includes adding features such as automated evacuation sound alerts and enhanced water pumping mechanisms to ensure the drones remain at the forefront of firefighting technology.”
Using technology for good
Sharjah resident Yara Elbanna, 45, recalled a frightening incident when she had to evacuate her building due to a fire.
“I had to descend 20 floors of Al Hilal Tower on Al Ittihad Road while carrying my young son,” said Ms Elbanna.
She suffered intense pain in her legs for three days after the evacuation, particularly because she suffers from arthritis in her knees.
Speaking about the potential use of drones in firefighting, Ms Elbanna said the technology can be hugely beneficial.
“If a drone had been able to accurately locate the fire and assess its severity, civil defence teams could have decided whether it was necessary to evacuate the building or not.
“This would have saved me from descending those 20 floors. While I managed to make the descent, there are many others – children, the elderly, or people with disabilities – who may not be able to evacuate such a tall building.”
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How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
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It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
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Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
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Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
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Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.
