Dubai Customs has unveiled new vehicles for its K9 unit, equipped with thermal sensors, smart cameras, and automated watering systems. These vehicles are designed to support sniffer dogs as part of intensified efforts to combat drug smuggling.

The new fleet of smart vehicles aims to enhance anti-narcotics inspections, accelerate field deployment, and improve the welfare of customs dogs.

Dubai Customs launched the new fleet to coincide with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The initiative supports the UAE’s national anti-drug campaign, launched this year by the National Anti-Drug Council under the theme "Solidarity to Eradicate this Scourge."

The new fleet is part of Dubai Customs' strategy to modernize its inspection systems and bolster the operational readiness of specialized units, including the K9 unit. This unit plays a vital role in protecting society and the national economy from the smuggling of narcotics and other prohibited materials through the country's border crossings.

Dubai Customs stated that two new vehicles were built according to the highest international standards, tailored to the specific operational needs of the K9 unit. They are designed to reduce response times for inspection requests, increase field efficiency, and ensure the highest safety standards for both handlers and dogs.

The vehicles feature an integrated suite of smart technologies, including cameras to monitor and record the dogs' movements within their compartments, driver alertness monitoring systems, and thermal sensors that continuously track the temperature of the dog units. If temperatures exceed safe levels, immediate alerts are sent to the driver and assistant to ensure the dogs' safety during field operations.

Additionally, the vehicles are equipped with dedicated emergency license plates to facilitate rapid access to inspection sites during incidents or heavy traffic. They are electronically linked to the Dubai Customs main operations room, allowing for the live monitoring of K9 unit inspection missions.

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Enhancing Welfare and Operational Readiness

To ensure the unit remains fully operational under all conditions, new dog kennels have been designed within vehicles for long-term missions. These compartments feature independent air conditioning systems, automatic water dispensers providing controlled amounts of water, and food bowls that allow dogs to be fed without leaving the vehicle.

Other features of these vehicles include non-slip flooring, three emergency exits, integrated access ramps, dedicated space for inspection equipment storage, and first aid kits.

The unit currently consists of 28 customs dogs, including 20 trained for narcotics detection and eight specializing in explosives detection. These dogs are handled by 24 officers, comprising 20 men and four women, reflecting the diversity of national forces active in this vital security sector.

The unit conducted 341 field missions in 2023, a figure that rose to 419 missions in 2024. In 2025, the unit has already carried out 290 missions to support inspection operations at customs centers.

The K9 unit operates from a dedicated center designed according to the highest international standards. The facility includes 54 dog kennels, five quarantine units, five specialized training rooms, a veterinary examination room, training grounds, and, with the addition of the new vehicles, a fleet of six specialized K9 transport vehicles.

Investing in Technology and Specialized Capabilities

Yasser Saeed Al Musallami, Senior Consultant for Customs Affairs at Dubai Customs, stated that the new fleet represents another milestone in Dubai Customs' ongoing efforts to strengthen customs inspection capabilities and consolidate the K9 unit's role as a primary pillar of border security.

He said: "Dubai Customs is committed to continuous investment in smart technologies and innovative solutions that enhance our inspectors' capabilities and improve the efficiency of customs operations in line with international best practices. The new K9 fleet is a qualitative addition to our inspection system, as it increases response speed, strengthens field readiness, and provides an integrated operational environment that helps thwart attempts to smuggle prohibited substances while protecting society and the national economy."

Fouad Al Suwaidi, Director of the Technical Support Department at Dubai Customs, also noted that the development of the K9 unit is not limited to the acquisition of advanced vehicles but encompasses a comprehensive ecosystem including training, professional development, and veterinary care to maintain the highest levels of operational readiness.

He added that Dubai Customs continues to invest in specialized training facilities that simulate inspection scenarios at land, sea, and air ports. These facilities include sandy, grassed, and indoor training areas, alongside a veterinary clinic, quarantine facilities, and storage rooms for hazardous materials, all designed according to international best practices for customs K9 unit operations.

The launch of this new fleet is part of Dubai Customs' ongoing efforts to develop border security infrastructure and equip its specialized units with the latest technologies and operational solutions. This move strengthens the capacity of inspectors for the early detection of narcotics and prohibited materials, reinforces the department's role in protecting society and facilitating legitimate trade, and bolsters Dubai's position as a global model in border security and the fight against organized transnational crime.