Dubai Police's 'Brave Squad' rescued 25 people stuck in Hatta mountains

Officers and personnel from Hatta Police Station, who belonged to the Brave Squad, were able to assist more than 200 people and rescue 25 others trapped in mountains and valleys over the past year, in co-operation with the Dubai Police Air Wing and the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services.

According to Brigadier Mubarak Bin Mubarak Al Ketbi, Director of Hatta Police Station, the squad was established by Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, to keep pace with government orientations that have drawn up a comprehensive development plan for the area to promote it as a local and international tourist destination.

Brave Squad of Hatta Police Station assisted more than 200 people trapped in mountains in 2024.

Al Ketbi pointed out that the squad was established with the aim of achieving Dubai Police’s strategic goal of ensuring rapid response to emergencies, stressing that the personnel were trained to handle all kinds of emergencies with high professionalism round the clock, especially in areas known for attracting tourists, adventure enthusiasts and mountaineers and valley hikers.

The squad is trained to deal with emergencies and rescues in mountainous and rugged areas and ready to handle any accident under any circumstances.

It includes cyclists ready under any circumstances to use bicycles to reach the deepest and most difficult areas of valleys and to ride in narrow paths through the mountain slopes for rapid rescue operations.

Brave Squad of Hatta Police Station during a mission. WAM

The squad members’ bicycles contain the latest smart devices and technologies to communicate with the Command and Control Centre and provide all the equipment used for all kinds of assistance, rescue and support, he said.

Colonel Abdullah Al Hafeet, Deputy Director of Hatta Police Station, affirmed that the cyclists in the Brave Squad had followed numerous important courses to ensure rapid response and save lives in difficult times.

"They completed several courses including cycling in mountain and off-road, first aid, use of drones, and rescue in rushing waters, in which rescue is usually very difficult," he said.

The cyclists also took courses in the basics of civil aviation and handling helicopters, which required skill in rescue operations in terms of determining the location and airlifting the injured using ropes and stretchers, he added.

Brave Squad of Hatta Police Station during a rescue mission.

In addition, they followed a rope rappel course and an ecosystem-based adaptation course as well as courses in the field of stadium security and tourism security, he said.

Meanwhile, First Lieutenant Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Commander of Brave Squad, affirmed that the squad in general and the bicycle team in particular, focus their efforts on ensuring the safety of visitors to tourist areas, mountains and valleys.

He pointed out that the squad is equipped with all the mechanisms aimed at enhancing its capabilities in responding quickly to emergency reports including all mechanical equipment, vehicles modified to handle mountains, LED searchlights, various heavy equipment, a TETRA set, screens, cameras and a live transmission system from the accident site to the Command and Control Centre.

The squad is also equipped with the latest modified motorcycles and drones that use thermal lighting at night and others that use regular daytime cameras, he said.