Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid attended pilot tests for the prototype drones that were unveiled at the Government Summit on Monday.
The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, accompanied the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Sheikh Mohammed was pleased with the initiative and gave instructions to proceed quickly with final tests in order to expand the range of services provided and extend its geographical reach, reported state news agency Wam.
“We want to reach to people before they reach us. We want to save time, to shorten distances, to increase effectiveness and to make services easier,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
The UAE intends to use drones for a wide variety of government services, including infrastructure monitoring, geographic surveys and delivery of small, light value items that are time sensitive such as identification documents and medicines.
According to the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, the initial testing of the drones - also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) - were promising.
Al Gergawi noted that the UAE is the first government in the world to develop civilian applications for drones to provide government services directly to the people.
“This initiative is part of Sheikh Mohammed’s integrated vision for a smart government, a smart society and global innovation in the use of technology to enhance government services. His vision is that technology should be used for the good of people and in the service of the people, and that governments should be the first to adopt the latest technologies,” said Mr Al Gergawi.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
Match statistics
Dubai Sports City Eagles 8 Dubai Exiles 85
Eagles
Try: Bailey
Pen: Carey
Exiles
Tries: Botes 3, Sackmann 2, Fourie 2, Penalty, Walsh, Gairn, Crossley, Stubbs
Cons: Gerber 7
Pens: Gerber 3
Man of the match: Tomas Sackmann (Exiles)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The squad traveling to Brazil:
Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
