Firefighting Robot Dogs to Tackle High Rise Blazes in Dubai

Firefighting robot dogs equipped with head-mounted water cannons were unveiled in Dubai at the Intersec trade show, highlighting new technology aimed at supporting emergency crews in hard-to-reach and high-risk environments such as high-rise buildings, tunnels and industrial facilities.
The robots, showcased by Dubai Civil Defence, are designed to operate where conditions make it difficult or dangerous for firefighters to enter. Dubai has experienced multiple high-rise fires in recent years, including incidents at the Address Downtown hotel, Torch Tower and Sulafa Tower, with drones previously used to reach upper floors during major blazes.
According to Lt Mohammed Al Sabousi, operations officer at Dubai Civil Defence, the robot dog is intended to work alongside human crews rather than replace them. He said the unit is designed for use in “harsh environments like high-rise buildings, tunnels and factories." The system is connected to a hose, runs on a water- and fire-resistant battery, and can operate for approximately three hours on a single charge.
The robot can be remotely controlled or operate using artificial intelligence to identify and target heat sources inside burning structures. Its payload can be switched between water and a foam-water mix depending on the type of fire. Earlier versions of similar robots were primarily used for reconnaissance, allowing crews to assess hazards and check for trapped individuals before entering a site.
Also on display at Intersec was the UAE-manufactured Falcon 6 aviation fire engine, built for airport firefighting. Measuring about 11.5 metres in length and weighing nearly 39 tonnes, the vehicle carries 12,500 litres of water and 1,500 litres of foam, with a discharge capacity of up to 3,000 litres per minute. It is equipped with a 16-metre piercing javelin designed to breach aircraft fuselages and deliver water directly to fire sources, as well as a turret with a range of around 90 metres.