The UAE is incorporating agentic artificial intelligence into firefighting and disaster management operations to accelerate response times and reduce casualties, Gulf News reported. Major General Dr Jassim Mohammed Al Marzooqi, Director General of the Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defence, announced the operational transformation during a forum in Dubai attended by Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the authority. The initiative focuses on deploying agentic AI to forecast fire risks, map operational hotspots, and assist emergency crews.
Under the framework, each civil defence directorate across the UAE will appoint a dedicated AI ambassador to identify, test, and adopt best practices for AI applications. In addition to predictive analytics, the authority showcased three hardware solutions: Kashif, an indoor reconnaissance drone developed with Dubai Civil Defence and Dubai AI Campus that creates real-time 3D maps and monitors gas levels in GPS-denied, high-temperature environments; Najda, a wearable wrist monitor tracking firefighter vitals; and Athar, a search-and-rescue system featuring three drones and three hand-sized rovers that establish self-forming communication networks without GPS or Wi-Fi.
Lieutenant Colonel Dr Essa Ahmed Al Mutawa, Director of the General Department of Artificial Intelligence and Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Smart Services at Dubai Civil Defence, told the publication that local tech solutions undergo proof-of-concept and pilot testing before field deployment. Officials stated the authority is actively investing in technology development alongside academic institutions and private enterprises, confirming openness to commercial partners offering fire safety and disaster response innovations.
Sources
- Gulf News · 2026-10-11
