Dubai Police to expand its use of drones

New deal with Chinese firm will give the force access to the latest technology

Maj Gen Abdullah Al Marri, Commander in Chief of Dubai Police and Roger Luo, DJI President. Courtesy DJI

Dubai Police will expand their use of drones after signing a deal that will give officers access to the “newest technology.”

DJI, a Chinese company that specialises in cutting-edge drones and aerial imaging technology, has entered a partnership with Dubai Police which it said would help make the emirate safer and more secure.

Dubai Police already uses drones, mainly for traffic monitoring, but the agreement will allow the force to access upgraded devices and new training and support services for staff.

Equipment to be provided included the Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual drone, which includes thermal imaging cameras which can be used in search operations, and is purpose built for the public safety sector.

Police will also gain access to a drone designed to monitor and identify other devices, which will help to determine if other drones pose a security risk.

“This partnership is set to boost co-operation, exchange experiences, share information and knowledge between both sides in the field of unmanned aerial systems,” said Maj Gen Abdullah Al Marri, Commander in Chief of Dubai Police.

“It reflects the keenness of Dubai Police to bring drones into the different police sectors, which helps promote safety and security in the city by utilising the latest tools and systems.”

Under the agreement, police will gain access to DJI’s lineup of hardware and software including its drones, a flight simulator for training and a fleet management and mission planning tool. The DJI AeroScope drone, which is also available, helps aid in the identification of unauthorised drone activity.

The deal will allow police to “gain more value from the life-saving potential of drone technology,” said Romeo Durscher, director of public safety integration at DJI.