Abu dhabi: Dubai Customs has launched a new fleet of vehicles for its K9 Unit to coincide with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and in support of the UAE's national anti-drug campaign, launched this year by the National Anti-Narcotics Council under the slogan "Uniting to Eradicate the Scourge".
According to Emirates News Agency, the new fleet is part of Dubai Customs' strategy to modernize its customs inspection system and enhance the operational readiness of its specialized units, including the K9 Unit. This unit is crucial for protecting society and the national economy from attempts to smuggle narcotics and other prohibited substances through the country's borders.
Dubai Customs reported that the two new vehicles have been constructed to meet the highest international standards, tailored to the operational needs of the K9 Unit. These vehicles are designed to speed up response times to inspection requests, improve field inspection efficiency, and ensure the safety of handlers and dogs.
The vehicles come equipped with an integrated suite of smart technologies, such as cameras for monitoring the dogs' movements, driver-attention monitoring systems, and thermal sensors that track kennel temperatures. If temperatures exceed safe limits, alerts are immediately sent to both the driver and assistant to ensure the dogs' safety during operations.
Additionally, the vehicles feature emergency plates for rapid access to inspection sites and are electronically linked to Dubai Customs' main operations room for live monitoring of K9 missions. The onboard kennels are designed for extended deployments, featuring independent air-conditioning systems, automated water dispensers, and feeding bowls for dog care without leaving the vehicle. They also include non-slip flooring, emergency exits, access ramps, and storage for equipment and first-aid kits.
The K9 Unit presently comprises 28 customs dogs, with 20 trained for narcotics detection and eight specialized in explosives detection. They are managed by 24 officers, reflecting the diversity of national talent in this security field. The unit conducted 341 field deployments in 2023, increasing to 419 in 2024, and completed 290 deployments in 2025 across customs centers.
The K9 Unit operates from a state-of-the-art facility that includes 54 kennels, quarantine and specialized training kennels, a veterinary examination room, training grounds, and a fleet of six dedicated K9 transport vehicles.
Yasser Saeed Al Musallami, Senior Customs Affairs Consultant at Dubai Customs, stated that the new fleet marks a significant milestone in enhancing customs inspection capabilities and reinforcing the K9 Unit's role in border security. He emphasized Dubai Customs' commitment to investing in smart technologies and modern solutions to improve inspection capabilities and efficiency.
Fouad Al Suwaidi, Director of the Technical Support Department at Dubai Customs, highlighted that the development of the K9 Unit goes beyond acquiring advanced vehicles. It includes a comprehensive ecosystem of training, professional development, and veterinary care to maintain high operational readiness. He noted the ongoing investment in specialized training facilities that simulate inspection scenarios across various entry points.
The launch of the new fleet is part of Dubai Customs' continuous efforts to develop its border security infrastructure and equip specialized units with the latest technologies, enhancing inspectors' capacity for early detection of prohibited substances, supporting legitimate trade, and reinforcing Dubai's position as a leader in border security and combating cross-border organized crime.
