On September 23, 2025, at approximately 2:00 pm local time, a fire broke out in Saleh Bin Lahej, a 14-story residential building in Al Barsha, Dubai, near the Mall of the Emirates. The blaze began on the fourth floor, and authorities immediately evacuated occupants from all units in the building. Firefighting teams arrived within six minutes of the alert, and fortunately, no casualties were reported. Soon after, the Dubai Civil Defense (DCD), the government agency responsible for fire safety, emergency response, and civil protection in Dubai, deployed specialized Shaheen firefighting drones to assist in containing the blaze.
The deployment marked one of the first real-world uses of the Shaheen firefighting drones system in a high-rise fire. Built to operate in structures up to 656 ft tall, the drones carry a large tank capable of dispensing water and firefighting foam, allowing firefighters to reach upper floors without exposing themselves to direct hazards. At Intersec 2025, a leading international trade fair for safety, security, and fire protection held annually in Dubai, the DCD presented Shaheen as “a drone designed to extinguish fires in towers and high-rise buildings.”
Brigadier Suliman Al Bloushi of the DCD explained that the drone “soars to a height of 200 metres, equivalent to 35 floors, in a few seconds” and “is able to spray a mix of water and foam up to 25 metres from its 1,000-litre tank,” noting that it also incorporates AI technology for precision targeting and safe operation.
Shaheen Firefighting Drones: From Observation to Direct Action
Dubai has joined a growing global trend of integrating drones into fire safety operations, enhancing situational awareness and decision-making. Fire departments around the world have adopted unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to assist with firefighting, particularly in urban environments where building density complicates traditional response efforts. The Los Angeles County Fire Department is one of the most prominent examples, utilizing DJI drones such as the Matrice 200 Series, Matrice 600 Pro, and Phantom 4 Pro. Equipped with high-definition visual and thermal cameras, these drones transmit live video and data to incident commanders, allowing rapid assessments of fire progression, detection of hotspots, and monitoring of potentially dangerous conditions.
LACoFD has deployed drones in over 175 missions, covering structure fires, wildfires, and hazardous materials incidents, underscoring their versatility and operational value. While observation-focused drones like those in Los Angeles improve situational awareness, Dubai’s Shaheen firefighting drones take unmanned firefighting into an operational role that goes beyond monitoring.
How Shaheen Enhances High-Rise Response
The Shaheen firefighting drones can apply water and foam directly to the blaze, reducing the need for firefighters to scale ladders or enter smoke-filled structures. This improves both efficiency and safety. Officials from the DCD stated that “The rapid and effective action of the Shaheen Drones, using water and foam, saved precious lives and prevented the fire from spreading.” With AI-assisted targeting, the drones respond quickly to changes in fire behavior, maintaining accuracy at significant altitudes while coordinating with ground crews in real time.
Fire Safety Challenges in Al Barsha
The cause of the fire in the Saleh Bin Lahej building has not been announced, as the DCD continues its investigation. However, over the past year, several fires have broken out in the Al Barsha area. In May 2025, a blaze in the Al Zarooni building, a 13-story residential complex, was traced to a gas leak and brought under control by traditional firefighting methods. Later that month, a smaller fire erupted in a restaurant within a residential building and was contained without injuries. These incidents highlight the ongoing fire risks in the district and the value of enhancing conventional methods with aerial firefighting tools like Shaheen firefighting drones.
The Future of Firefighting
Dubai’s deployment demonstrates how drones can transition from supportive observation platforms to active firefighting assets, a model that could inspire similar innovations worldwide. As urban environments continue to grow taller and more complex, the integration of unmanned systems with traditional firefighting operations may become standard practice. The success of the Shaheen firefighting drones suggests a future in which drones are not only eyes in the sky but also frontline responders capable of tackling fires, protecting the lives of firefighters and civilians alike.
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