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200 lives saved: How Dubai Police use bikes, drones to rescue hikers in Hatta mountain
The elite team undergoes specialised training to navigate treacherous mountain terrain and operate in extreme environments
- PUBLISHED: Sun 20 Apr 2025, 12:47 PM
In the rough terrain of Hatta, a team from Dubai Police has become a lifeline for hikers, climbers, and tourists in distress. The 'Hatta Braves' rescue unit has saved 25 individuals stranded in mountainous areas and provided emergency medical support to over 200 people in 2024 alone.
Operating under the Hatta Police Station, the unit works in close coordination with the Dubai Police Air Wing and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. The team has been vital in ensuring public safety in one of Dubai’s most rugged and remote regions.
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Brigadier Mubarak bin Mubarak Al Ketbi, Director of Hatta Police Station, credited the unit’s success to strategic foresight. He explained that the 'Hatta Braves' were formed under the directive of Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, as part of a broader vision to transform Hatta into a premier destination for both local and international tourists.
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"The creation of the Hatta Braves aligns with Dubai Police’s strategic goal of rapid emergency response," said Al Ketbi. "Each member is trained to act swiftly in challenging scenarios — especially in areas popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and adventure seekers."
Built for the mountains
The unit's unique strength lies in its adaptability. Team members undergo specialised training to navigate treacherous mountain terrain and operate in extreme environments.
One of their most distinctive features is a fleet of high-mobility bicycle patrols, designed for narrow trails and remote valleys. Each bike is equipped with advanced smart devices, rescue kits, and communication tools directly connected to the Command and Control Centre.
"Our Braves complete intensive field training to ensure high-speed response in life-threatening situations," said Colonel Abdullah Al Hafeet, Deputy Director of Hatta Police Station. "Their ability to reach remote, difficult-to-access areas makes them essential to our public safety mission."
Tech-powered response
Technology plays a key role in the Hatta Braves’ operations. From off-road tactical vehicles to LED searchlights and thermal drones for night missions, the unit is equipped for precision rescues. Each officer wears a live-streaming helmet camera to provide real-time updates to command units.
“The bikes alone are customised for narrow trails and rugged paths, fully loaded with rescue gear, smart communication tools, and medical kits,” said First Lieutenant Muhammad Obaid Al Kaabi, Head of the Hatta Braves Unit.
In addition to bikes, the unit deploys quad bikes, drones, and heavy-duty tools to manage high-risk rescue operations in the mountains. Whether it’s airlifting an injured hiker or reaching a stranded biker in fading light, the Braves are always ready.