Drones give Dubai Police early view of emergencies before patrols arrive

An ambulance or patrol may still be on its way to an emergency, but officers in Dubai Police’s command and control centre could already be watching the scene.

If no surveillance camera covers the location, a drone can be sent automatically to give officers an early picture of what is happening. The information can help them decide whether extra emergency resources are needed before the first patrol arrives.

The capability is one element of a wider technology network Dubai Police uses to handle emergency calls, locate incidents and coordinate response across the emirate.

In an interview with Khaleej Times, Captain Abdullah Rashid Al Maamari, Head of the Command and Control Section at Dubai Police, explained how these systems work together, from the moment someone calls 999 to the analysis of incidents after each shift.

Locating callers who cannot give an address

One of the first tasks for emergency operators is working out exactly where help is needed.

Not every caller knows their location. Some may be unfamiliar with their surroundings, while others may be unable to give complete information.

Al Maamari said the operations room uses GPS and location-based technologies to identify incident locations. Once a location is established, the system can display the nearest available surveillance camera, allowing officers to assess the surroundings.

The value of this approach became apparent in an incident disclosed by police in August. A woman phoned Dubai Police at 3.30am and managed to say only a few words about being at an intersection before the line went silent.

Her phone was traced to the Nad Al Sheba area, and nearby patrols were alerted. Officers later found her unconscious inside a locked car and rescued her.

Even partial information can be used. Al Maamari said a simple detail such as a vehicle registration number could help specialised teams find a vehicle through police systems and surveillance cameras.

Drones can arrive before the patrol

Surveillance cameras, however, do not cover every location. Dubai Police’s Drone Box system is designed to fill that gap.

“If there is no camera at the location, we have a system called Drone Box. The drone can be deployed automatically to the scene without direct intervention,” Al Maamari explained.

This lets officers assess incidents remotely rather than depending only on information provided over the telephone.

“Even before the patrol arrives, the drone provides us with information about the incident and whether additional resources are required,” he said.

The Drone Box programme dates to 2021. During a previous Khaleej Times tour of the drone operations facility, officials said the aircraft send live footage to the command centre and help assess emergencies before response teams reach the location.

The system has also been deployed in high-rise communities, including Jumeirah Lake Towers and Uptown Dubai, to support emergency response and remote monitoring.

AI helps analyse reports after an emergency

Technology continues to play a role after an incident is closed.

At the close of each shift, artificial intelligence helps Dubai Police analyse and categorise incident reports, identifying areas where emergencies are concentrated.

“At present, artificial intelligence does not directly intervene in receiving calls. However, we use it to analyse reports and identify areas where incidents are concentrated,” Al Maamari said.

Officers then discuss the findings during daily briefings, which helps them understand incident patterns and prepare for upcoming shifts.

AI is therefore used to support the analysis of emergency reports rather than replace the operators who answer public calls.

Preparing for thousands of calls

Technology is not the only element. Another challenge is making sure enough staff are available to answer emergency calls throughout the day. Al Maamari said Dubai Police studies incoming call patterns and adjusts staffing levels accordingly.

During the second quarter of 2025, 99.8 per cent of emergency calls were answered within 10 seconds.

Dubai Police also recorded an average response time of two minutes and 27 seconds for the most critical emergency incidents in 2025. “Our goal is not to miss a single emergency call. We want to respond to every emergency call we receive,” Al Maamari said.

Why every call to 999 matters

Not every call to the emergency line is a genuine emergency. Al Maamari said operators regularly receive calls about traffic enquiries, everyday problems, and matters that fall under other authorities’ responsibility.

Previous cases reported by Khaleej Times have included people calling 999 for directions, to ask about traffic fines and, in one unusual instance, to invite police officers to lunch. Such calls place additional demands on a system designed to respond to urgent situations.

The force reminds residents to use 999 for emergencies and 901 for non-emergency police enquiries. For tourists unfamiliar with the UAE’s emergency numbers, Al Maamari said Dubai’s emergency system can also receive calls dialled to international emergency numbers, including 911 and 112, allowing visitors to reach emergency services.

Further changes are planned for the operations room.

According to Al Maamari, Dubai Police is preparing a comprehensive systems transformation over the next two years, with greater integration of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.

The objective is to reinforce the existing emergency response process, from the first call to ensuring officers reach those who need help.