Dubai Police unveil self-driving patrol cars to improve safety in residential areas

The vehicles will use artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology to monitor criminal activity

Dubai Police unveiled new driverless patrol cars to monitor security in residential areas. Photo: Dubai Police

Dubai Police have announced plans to introduce fully electric, self-driving patrol vehicles in the emirate's residential areas.

The new patrol cars will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 7kph.

The announcement was made on Monday at Gitex, the region's largest technology conference, which is being held at Dubai World Trade Centre all week.

The car is designed to specifically patrol residential areas, and will use artificial intelligence to monitor criminal activity, recognise faces and register car licence plates.

It also features a 360-degree camera to enable officers to gather intelligence, which will send real-time messages directly to the control centre at Dubai Police's General Operations Department.

Lt Rashid bin Haidar from the Dubai Police's General Department of Administrative Affairs said that the car also features an on-board drone.

“This drone can access areas the vehicle cannot and maintains direct wireless communication with the patrol once launched,” he said.

Dubai Police did not state when the self-driving patrol cars will start operating.

The force also launched an amphibious vehicle to patrol the city's waterways and for use in sea rescues.

Developed around the chassis of a Corvette, the vehicle has a top speed of around 45 knots, or 83kph, and is powered by a 1800cc engine.

The vehicle can carry up to two passengers with a weight limit of 625kg.

Gitex Global 2023 day one – in pictures

A robotic hand at the Etisalat stand at Gitex, which is being held at Dubai World Trade Centre. All photos: Leslie Pableo / The National

Amina, a robot, interacting with a visitor to the show

Crowds at Gitex on the second day of the exhibition

A robot designed to plant trees on the RTDA stand

Miroki robot on the Etisalat stand

A flying vehicle at the Etisalat stand

A driverless vehicle

A futuristic Mercedes Benz on the Etisalat stand

A high-speed floating police car on display at the conference in Dubai

The Du stand at Gitex

Abu Dhabi Customs shows off its robot technology at Gitex

An Abu Dhabi government stand at Gitex

Another Dubai Police vehicle on display at the tech show

Ramnas the robot at Gitex

Abu Dhabi Customs during a virtual reality demonstration

A face scanner at the Road and Transport Authority stand at Gitex

A man interacts with a robot at the Abu Dhabi Government stand

A robot dog was part of the tech show on Monday

A 3D printing of an abra that will be launched next year by Dubai's RTA