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.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
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Rating: 4.5/5
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FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
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Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
SPECS
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
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7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap | Dh70,000 | 2,200m
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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Gertrude Bell's life in focus
A feature film
At one point, two feature films were in the works, but only German director Werner Herzog’s project starring Nicole Kidman would be made. While there were high hopes he would do a worthy job of directing the biopic, when Queen of the Desert arrived in 2015 it was a disappointment. Critics panned the film, in which Herzog largely glossed over Bell’s political work in favour of her ill-fated romances.
A documentary
A project that did do justice to Bell arrived the next year: Sabine Krayenbuhl and Zeva Oelbaum’s Letters from Baghdad: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Gertrude Bell. Drawing on more than 1,000 pieces of archival footage, 1,700 documents and 1,600 letters, the filmmakers painstakingly pieced together a compelling narrative that managed to convey both the depth of Bell’s experience and her tortured love life.
Books, letters and archives
Two biographies have been written about Bell, and both are worth reading: Georgina Howell’s 2006 book Queen of the Desert and Janet Wallach’s 1996 effort Desert Queen. Bell published several books documenting her travels and there are also several volumes of her letters, although they are hard to find in print. Original documents are housed at the Gertrude Bell Archive at the University of Newcastle, which has an online catalogue.
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Joker: Folie a Deux
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Bio
Age: 25
Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah
Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering
Favourite colour: White
Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai
Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.
First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
The biog
Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos
Favourite spice: Cumin
Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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