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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.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is giving the nol card its biggest upgrade since its launch in 2009, transforming it from a plastic travel card into a fully digital payment platform.
The new system is expected to be fully rolled out by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
“The nol system upgrade project represents a strategic step within the comprehensive digital transformation journey pursued by the Roads and Transport Authority. It also constitutes a strategic investment in the future of digital services,” said Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of RTA.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Why is the nol card being upgraded?
The RTA is replacing the current card-based ticketing system with an Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) platform.
Unlike the existing system, which stores travel information on the physical card, the new technology stores customer information securely in a digital account. This allows passengers to manage their cards, payments and travel history online while supporting faster and more flexible payment options.
The upgrade is part of Dubai’s wider digital transformation strategy and aligns with global advances in digital payments and financial technology.
What are the new features?
The upgraded nol system will offer several new services, including:
- Digital customer accounts linked to nol cards.
- The ability to link multiple cards, including family members’ cards, under one account.
- Automatic balance top-ups from linked bank accounts.
- Online balance management.
- Access to transaction history.
- The ability to block lost or stolen cards remotely.
How will the rollout happen?
The project will be introduced in three phases.
Phase 1: QR code ticketing
Passengers will be able to buy and validate tickets using QR codes through digital platforms and mobile devices.
Phase 2: New-generation nol cards
A new version of the nol card will be launched, digitally linked to individual customer accounts for easier management and greater flexibility.
Phase 3: Bank cards and digital wallets
Passengers will be able to pay directly using:
- Bank cards
- Digital wallets
- Other contactless payment methods
This will reduce the need to carry a physical nol card while making public transport payments quicker and more convenient.
Will the nol card be used outside public transport?
Yes. Once the project is completed, the upgraded nol card will function more like a bank card.
Customers will be able to use it not only across Dubai’s public transport network but also to make payments at retail stores and through digital payment channels across the UAE.
When will the upgrade be completed?
According to the RTA, the project is 72% complete, with all three phases scheduled for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
Simplified payment system?
The new nol system is expected to:
- Simplify fare payments.
- Improve the passenger experience.
- Support cashless and contactless payments.
- Offer better account management.
- Integrate multiple transport services into one payment ecosystem.
- Expand the use of nol beyond transport into everyday retail payments.
The upgrade marks one of the biggest changes to Dubai’s public transport payment system since the nol card was first introduced more than 15 years ago.
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