Meet Dubai’s New Firefighters: Robot Dogs Take on High-Rise Blazes

Dubai is adding some serious tech muscle to its firefighting team — and yes, it includes robot dogs with water cannons.

Unveiled at the Intersec security and safety trade show, these next-gen machines are designed to tackle fires in places where humans face the highest risk, especially high-rise buildings, tunnels, and factories.

Why Dubai is turning to robots

High-rise fires aren’t new to the city. Since 2015, several major blazes — from The Address Downtown to Torch Tower — have exposed how fast flames can spread, especially through building cladding.

Last year’s fire in Al Barsha already showed how drones can help reach hard-to-access areas. Now, Dubai Civil Defence is taking things further with ground-based robots that can enter danger zones before firefighters do.

Robot dogs with serious firepower

The standout reveal at Intersec? Firefighting robot dogs, officially known as the B2W.

According to Dubai Civil Defence’s Lt Mohammed Al Sabousi, these robots are built for the toughest conditions. They come with a high-pressure water cannon that can spray up to 60 metres, releasing 40 litres per second.

They’re remotely controlled, fire-resistant, water-resistant, and connected to a hose — meaning they don’t run out of water mid-mission.

Smart, tough, and built for danger

On a full charge, the robot can operate for up to three hours, depending on conditions. It can be controlled by an operator or switched to AI mode, where it automatically locks onto heat sources inside a burning building.

It can spray water or a foam-water mix, depending on what’s on fire. Earlier versions were mainly used for surveillance, checking for trapped people or hidden hazards. This new model actually fights the fire head-on.

The goal? Keep firefighters out of unpredictable situations like gas leaks or structural collapses.

Tested before lives are on the line

Dubai Civil Defence already has several of these robots ready and plans to test them in real emergency scenarios soon.

“These machines help us avoid sending firefighters into areas that could escalate very quickly,” Lt Al Sabousi said, pointing to warehouses and industrial zones as high-risk examples.

Not just robots: meet the Falcon 6 fire engine

Robots weren’t the only showstoppers. The UAE-made Falcon 6 fire engine also turned heads at Intersec.

Built specifically for aviation fires, this massive vehicle is 11.5 metres long, four metres high, and weighs nearly 39 tonnes. It carries 12,500 litres of water and 1,500 litres of foam, spraying up to 3,000 litres per minute.

Built to fight aircraft fires up close

One of the Falcon 6’s most impressive features is a 16-metre piercing lance that can punch through an aircraft’s body and blast water directly at the fire inside.

Despite operating extremely close to flames, the vehicle protects its crew with full-body fire shielding, underground tyre protection, and long-range turrets that can shoot water up to 90 metres.

The Falcon 6 is already in use at airports across India, Africa, the Gulf, and South America.

What this means for Dubai

From robot dogs to fire engines built like tanks, Dubai is clearly betting on technology to fight fires faster and safer — especially as the city continues to build taller and busier structures.

For firefighters, it means fewer risks. For residents, it means faster response when every second counts.