Safety Ignited: Sheikh Hamdan’s Dh30m fire alert for low-income Emirati homes

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, has initiated a project worth Dh30 million ($8.17 million) aimed at equipping low-income Emirati households in Dubai with fire alert systems. The project, announced by Dubai Civil Defence, includes the installation of fire detection and early warning systems in the homes of low-income citizens across the emirate. In addition, the scheme provides insurance coverage for homes in the event of a fire.

This endeavour represents Dubai’s ongoing commitment to fire prevention and saving lives. Dubai Civil Defence has been leveraging advanced artificial intelligence technology to deliver fire safety alerts to over a million residents residing in high-risk areas since the beginning of the year. By analyzing six years’ worth of fire incident data, the authority has used cutting-edge technology to identify patterns and determine the likelihood of fires occurring, including the how, when, and where.

Through the Dubai Readiness program, launched in January, residents residing in fire-prone “red zones,” which have experienced the highest number of fires, are identified using the information gathered. Recent statistics from the Ministry of Interior indicate a 10% increase in building fires across the UAE over the past two years. In 2022, Civil Defence teams responded to over 3,000 incidents, including 2,169 building fires, representing a 3% increase from 2021 and a 10% increase from 2020. However, specific details regarding casualties were not provided.

These statistics highlight the crucial importance of adhering to safety regulations. As Sami Al Naqbi, the head of Sharjah Civil Defence, emphasized, people often underestimate the potential for disaster until they experience one firsthand. Therefore, fire safety should never be taken lightly.