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Meet Wabel, UAE’s robo-fireman
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.
From convincing phone calls by fake bank officials to bogus shopping websites designed to steal credit card details, financial scams are growing increasingly sophisticated across the UAE.
In response, federal authorities, the Central Bank, and police forces are rolling out a multi-layered defence strategy designed to intercept fraud before it reaches consumers.
The approach focuses on three core pillars: making scams harder to execute, speeding up real-time detection, and providing direct avenues for victims to report crimes and recover losses.
Central Bank mandates
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has significantly increased compliance requirements for all licensed financial institutions, shifting the burden of fraud detection directly onto banks.
- Phasing Out SMS OTPs: The CBUAE is pushing institutions away from single-factor, SMS-based one-time passwords, favouring biometric verification and dynamic app-based authentications to combat SIM-swap and phishing attacks.
- Anti-Fraud Hub: The regulator established the Central Bank Anti-Fraud Operations Centre (CAFOC) to enable real-time threat monitoring, rapid incident response, and instant data sharing across UAE financial entities.
- Strict monitoring: Banks are legally required to maintain continuous monitoring systems to flag suspicious transactions, combat social engineering, and immediately report unauthorised activities.
Safety for online shoppers
With cybercriminals increasingly targeting online shoppers, the UAE’s consumer protection framework now treats digital storefronts with the same legal scrutiny as physical retail.
- E-Commerce Regulations: Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 sets clear technical standards, legal liabilities, and data protection rules for digital trading platforms operating in the country.
- Tougher Anti-Counterfeit Penalties: Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2023 on Combating Commercial Fraud equips authorities to crack down on fraudulent sellers, corrupt goods, and misleading online commercial practices.
- Statutory Rights: Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 guarantees data privacy, fair dispute settlement, and monetary compensation for consumers facing fraudulent domestic transactions.
Where residents can report scams
Authorities urge residents never to absorb financial losses quietly. Several official channels provide dispute resolution and criminal reporting:
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism: Handles formal consumer disputes, misleading sales complaints, and requests for product recalls, facilitating amicable settlements or judicial referrals.
- Dubai Police e-Crime Platform: Provides a dedicated portal for reporting cybercrime, identity theft, and electronic banking fraud.
- Local Consumer Protection Departments: Each emirate maintains direct channels to investigate deceptive trade practices and unauthorised merchant activity.
Scam warning: Dubai Police recently warned against fraudulent Consumer Protection websites that lure users into downloading remote-access apps, allowing criminals to hijack devices and drain linked bank accounts.
Do’s and Don’ts to keep your accounts safe
While state-level defences continue to tighten, personal vigilance remains essential:
- Don’t share details: No bank or government entity will ever ask for your password, PIN, or multi-factor authentication code via phone, email, or WhatsApp.
- Don’t give remote access: Never download third-party software (such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer) at the request of an unsolicited caller.
- Do URL check: Check domain spellings carefully and ensure e-commerce platforms use verified, secure payment gateways before entering card numbers.
- Don’t wait, act immediately: If you suspect compromised details or notice an unauthorised charge, freeze your card via your banking app and notify your bank’s fraud unit without delay.
Drivers heading towards Sharjah University City have been given some relief with the partial reopening of a busy route, but motorists using the Industrial Area 17, Maliha Road corridor should prepare for a new traffic diversion from Wednesday, August 26.
Sharjah’s Roads and Transport Authority has reopened two lanes in each direction along a stretch connecting Industrial Area 17, University Bridge and University City.
The reopening restores part of a key route between University City and the Institutes Land area, which had been affected by ongoing roadworks.
New diversion starts August 26
The reopening comes as another section of the road network is partially closed as part of the Etihad Rail Station Access Roads Project.
From Wednesday, motorists travelling from Industrial Area 17 towards Maliha Road will be diverted onto an alternative route.
Drivers heading to Sharjah English School, Nesto Hypermarket and nearby businesses should therefore allow extra time and follow the signed diversion rather than attempting to use their usual approach.
How long will the diversion last?
The temporary diversion is expected to remain in place for just over five weeks, from August 26 until October 5.
The works are part of the wider infrastructure programme supporting the development of the Etihad Rail network in Sharjah.
While the project is expected to improve connectivity in the long term, drivers can expect changes to traffic movements while the access roads are being constructed.
What drivers should know
- University City route: Two lanes in each direction are now open along the reopened section.
- New closure: The Industrial Area 17-to-Maliha Road route will be partially closed from August 26.
- Affected destinations: Drivers heading towards Sharjah English School, Nesto Hypermarket and nearby businesses should use the designated alternative routes.
- End date: The diversion is scheduled to remain until October 5, 2026.
- Drive carefully: Follow directional signs and safety instructions around the work zones.
- Allow extra time: Traffic conditions may change during peak periods as motorists adjust to the diversion.
The Roads and Transport Authority has published a map showing the approved alternative routes. Drivers are advised to check the diversion before setting off and follow the road signs once they reach the affected area.
Bank fraud in UAE: New measures in place to protect residents from money scams
What UAE drivers heading towards Sharjah University Road need to know
