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Meet Wabel, UAE’s robo-fireman

Published

3 years ago

May 21, 2023

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FFBOTS, the Jebel Ali Industrial Area-based Emirati firm, has launched the first locally-made firefighting robot of its kind in the Middle East, with world-class technical specifications and operational capabilities.

Called Wabel, which means rain, the robot provides a qualitative addition to firefighting departments and their efforts to reach critical but difficult areas or when it comes to dangerous physically-demanding tasks that may compromise their safety.

The development comes less than two weeks after a Emirati fighter died in a post-fire tragic incident in Al Aweer, Dubai. Sgt Omar Khalifa Al Ketbi, 29, from Dubai Civil Defence, lost his life in the line of duty when a slab fell on him during cooling down operations after a fire broke out at the Al Kabayel Discount Centre.

In 2016, Jasim Al Beloushi died while responding to a situation at the Dubai International Airport following the emergency landing of Emirates Airline flight EK521. Al Beloushi and his colleagues saved all passengers but had to pay the ultimate sacrifice.

“Since its inception, the company has sought to locally manufacture, design and assemble robotics technologies, with a focus on attracting local and international competencies and expertise, inspired by its vision and the passion of the founding-team,” said Mohammed Islam, a robotics expert and CEO of FFBOTS.

“The start has been made from the UAE with a joint Emirati-Saudi investment. We intend to go global, while leveraging artificial intelligence to a maximum … this is especially the case in one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, where giant projects and factories, free zones, warehouses, tall residential towers and other sensitive areas are spread,” he added.

Mohammed Islam indicated that the robot complements rather than annuls the role of civil defence, by providing a qualitative addition to its efforts in fighting fires and preserving lives and property, especially when fires involve high-risk situations, such as proximity to oil and gas reservoirs and highly flammable materials that cannot be approached.

Technical Specifications

Wabel has multiple high-calibre features. Pending the arrival of civil defence personnel, it helps controllers, especially in critical places, to immediately use it remotely and start firefighting operations, benefitting from a powerful flow rate of 8,000 LPM, a range of 100 meters, and a height of 50 meters.
The robot is controlled wirelessly by a control station with a response range of up to 1,000 meters.
It is equipped with 4-hose-inlets and a GPS build routing and maps for robot location and facilitations of navigation.
The robot uses foam and water with a flow rate of 8,000 LPM. It is equipped with six smart cameras covering four directions, making it the firefighter’s eye from the heart of the event.
The robot is also equipped with front-end water sprinklers to cool the surface in front of the robot and vertical water sprinklers to create a water umbrella to cool the robot from above.
Wabel can climb stairs up to 30 degrees, and weights about a ton. It is provided with strong front bumpers.
The robot is also equipped with a dedicated camera for extinguisher target direction and a back camera to facilitate movement, in addition to an inbound audio channel to enable the controller to hear sounds around the robot;
It has 15 temperature-sensing points. The robot’s powerful headlights enable control officers to see clearly during heavy smoke. An audible siren helps locate the robot, while also alerting others in smoky or low-visibility areas and warning residents of a fire.

Related Topics:#UAE AI blaze Civil Defence death Dubai fire firefighter firemen robot safety technology

Staff Reporter

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UAE launches free Fazaa discount membership for resident families: Who can apply and what you get

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5 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Resident families in the UAE can now apply for a free Fazaa discount membership as part of the country’s “Year of the Family 2026” initiative.

The programme, launched by Fazaa in collaboration with the Ministry of Family, aims to support family stability, strengthen social cohesion, and improve the quality of life for residents living in the UAE.

Here’s what you need to know:

Who can apply?

Resident families in the UAE are eligible if:

They live in the UAE
They have at least one son or daughter

The membership will remain valid throughout the Year of the Family 2026 and will expire at the end of the year.

What benefits do families get?

Members will gain access to a wide network of discounts and services, including:

Discounts at more than 34,000 retail outlets in the UAE and internationally
Offers on over 28,000 food and consumer products through Fazaa stores
Travel and accommodation deals at more than 500,000 hotels worldwide through the Fazaa Places service
Up to 70% discounts on entertainment and activity tickets through the Fazaa mobile app
Exclusive offers on various products and services

How to register

Families can apply online through the official Fazaa website.

Once approved, applicants can activate their digital membership cards, which can then be used to access discounts and services.

A dedicated support team has also been assigned to help residents with registration and activation.

Why is the initiative being launched?

The programme is part of the UAE’s Year of the Family 2026, which focuses on strengthening the role of families in society and promoting values of cooperation, stability, and community well-being.

Officials say the initiative also recognises the contributions of resident families who live and work in the UAE and play a role in the country’s growth and development.

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Dubai’s new grievance committee for government employees: What it means

Published

6 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Dubai has introduced a new system that allows government employees to formally challenge certain workplace decisions, following a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The new framework, established under Decree No. (5) of 2026, creates a Central Grievances Committee that will review complaints from Dubai government staff regarding administrative decisions affecting their jobs.

What is the new committee?

The Central Grievances Committee is a body created to review appeals from government employees who believe an administrative decision affecting them was unfair or improperly handled.

A separate Grievance Adjudication Committee will examine the appeals and issue final decisions.

Who will be on the committee?

The committee will include:

A chairman and deputy chairman
Members with legal and human resources expertise
Representatives from:
- The General Secretariat of the Executive Council
- The Supreme Legislative Committee
- The Dubai Government Human Resources Department

Members will be appointed by the chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council.

What decisions can employees challenge?

Employees may submit grievances against final administrative decisions affecting:

Their employment or legal status
Job roles
Working conditions

On what grounds can a complaint be filed?

Appeals can be made if an employee believes a decision involved:

Misapplication of the law
Failure to follow required procedures
Abuse of authority
Excessive disciplinary action
Lack of proper justification

How long do employees have to file a grievance?

Employees must submit their complaint within 14 working days after receiving written notice of the decision. Late submissions may still be accepted if there is a valid reason.

When can a complaint be rejected?

The committee may reject grievances if:

The issue falls outside its jurisdiction
The complaint is filed after the deadline
The matter has already been decided by the courts
The employee has no legal interest in the case

Are the committee’s decisions final?

Decisions issued by the Grievance Adjudication Committee will be final and binding on government entities. However, employees still retain the right to challenge decisions through the courts.

What else does the decree change?

The new decree replaces Executive Council Resolution No. (41) of 2015, which previously governed the grievances process for Dubai government employees.

The law will take effect once it is published in the Official Gazette.

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Dubai announces free parking, extended metro, tram, and bus timings for Eid Al Fitr

Published

6 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced extended operating hours for metro, tram, and bus services during the Eid Al Fitr holiday, along with free public parking for the first three days of the celebration.

Dubai Metro’s Red and Green Lines will run from 5:00am to 1:00am the following day between March 18 and 21, while services on Sunday, March 22, will operate from 8:00am until 1:00am.

Dubai Tram services will operate from 6:00am to 1:00am from Wednesday to Saturday, and from 9:00am to 1:00am on Sunday.

Some changes will also apply to intercity bus services. Route E100, which usually runs between Al Ghubaiba Bus Station and Abu Dhabi, will be suspended from the afternoon of March 18 until March 22. Passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi during this period are advised to use Route E101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station instead. Meanwhile, Route E102, operating between Al Jafiliya Bus Station and Musaffah, will continue running from March 19 to 22.

The RTA advised commuters to check the S’hail mobile app for updated schedules covering Dubai Bus and marine transport services, including water taxis, ferries, and abras.

Public parking across Dubai will be free from the first day of Eid until the end of the third day, although multi-storey parking facilities will remain chargeable. Normal parking fees will resume from the fourth day of Eid.

Several RTA service centres will also close during the holiday. Vehicle technical inspection centres and Customer Happiness Centres will be shut from March 19 to 22, while some smart customer centres and the Umm Ramool centre will remain open 24 hours. Services are expected to resume on Sunday, depending on the length of Ramadan.