UAE hosts global satellite-based search and rescue meeting
Organised by the National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC) of the National Guard, the event will run until June 5 under the patronage of Major General Staff Pilot Saleh Mohammed bin Mejren Al Ameri, Commander of the National Guard.
Hosting the event for the first time, it will see the participation of more than 200 experts from 45 countries, including representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
In his opening remarks, Colonel Staff Pilot Rashed Al Naqbi, Manager of NSRC, emphasised the UAE's commitment to fostering strategic partnerships and exchanging expertise with international entities to save lives and enhance response times and accuracy.
Allan Knox, Head of the Cospas-Sarsat delegation and Chair of the 39th Joint Committee Meeting, expressed confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would contribute to the development of global rescue services and help save more lives.
What is COSPAS-SARSAT
COSPAS-SARSAT facilitates the detection and transmission of distress signals via satellite to ensure rapid and effective life-saving interventions. Since its inception in 1982, the programme has contributed to saving more than 66,000 lives worldwide.
The UAE joined COSPAS-SARSAT in 2009 and has since taken an active role in shaping its mission, incorporating world-class standards and pioneering technologies in search and rescue operations.
The NSRC manages nine advanced ground stations and a 24|7 coordination hub. The centre has conducted over 1,200 operations between 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, including land and sea rescues, airborne evacuations and rapid responses to distress signals.
Its fleet of AW139 helicopters, equipped with night vision and thermal imaging, is deployed across five zones in the UAE. The centre also monitors key maritime and terrestrial distress frequencies, ensuring rapid and coordinated responses.
In alignment with the UAE's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the NSRC integrates AI technologies to analyse distress signals in real time, further reducing response times and enhancing accuracy. Innovations such as the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and AI-driven platforms have contributed to positioning the UAE at the forefront of next-generation emergency response.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
UAE showcases cutting-edge rescue technologies at Cospas-Sarsat meeting
29 May 2025 00:24 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Several UAE entities are taking part in the international Cospas-Sarsat meeting in Abu Dhabi, showcasing their contributions to global emergency response efforts. From an advanced 'life detector' to data analytics, these teams are harnessing cutting-edge technologies to help save lives during those working with the National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC) during emergencies is the UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). At the Cospas-Sarsat meeting, the authority highlighted the importance of live tracking data in life-saving to Aletihad, Eng. Saleh Al Musabi, Director of Spectrum Services, Eng. Saif Khalid Al Naqbi, and Eng. Hessa Ahmed Al Mahmoud elaborated on the TDRA's pivotal role in rescue efforts."We are responsible for registering three categories - individuals, aircraft, and vessels - on the 406 MHz emergency frequency used for rescue operations. We have developed a dedicated portal to handle this registration efficiently," they TDRA team manages "a modern, advanced database for all beacons registered in the UAE, whether on land, sea, or air," they technology uses satellite systems with global coverage. "We have a major centre that receives distress signals from individuals, planes, or ships via satellites and forwards them to the appropriate authorities," they Dubai Police are also showcasing the wide range of devices they use in search-and-rescue operations - from ropes to high-tech may sound basic, but these effectively help rescuers reach stranded victims faster, "without the need to build a full system to descend", Hassan Almuaini, an instructor at Dubai Police HQ, told the event of a building collapse, a more advanced tool - a life detector - is used to identify movement and sounds beneath the rubble, Almuaini explained. The device is equipped with sensors strategically placed around the site to aid in monitors on the sensor provide readings that allow responders to pinpoint victims quickly and accurately."Search always comes before rescue. Once we identify a victim using this technology, we begin extraction," Almuaini helpful device on display is the Dubai Police's Rescue Radar. "It detects objects under the ground up to 10 metres deep. It is one of the most advanced tools we have, and every second counts during a rescue operation," the instructor most versatile tool, however, is the drone system, Almuaini said."The drone assists in wide-area searches - especially at night - with spotlights and thermal cameras. It's an ideal tool for locating people lost in dunes or difficult terrain," he the ongoing Cospas-Sarsat meeting, the Sharjah Airport Authority reaffirmed its commitment to supporting international search and rescue Sahoo Alsuwaidi, Acting Director of Emergency Planning and Standards at Sharjah Airport Authority, emphasised the platform's vital role in facilitating knowledge exchange and strengthening global collaboration in rescue Airport has incorporated international best practices into its emergency response framework, particularly early incident reporting and multi-agency explained: "Within our operational system for Airport Emergency Services (AES), we've implemented the METHANE framework to enable immediate reporting of air incidents, and adopted the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP) to streamline and unify field operations." "These tools have significantly improved coordination during drills and real-world responses, enhanced operational readiness, and ensured compliance with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority requirements," he added.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Al Etihad
Landmark Cospas-Sarsat meeting begins in Abu Dhabi
28 May 2025 00:33 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Demonstrating its commitment to saving lives and advancing global rescue operations, the UAE opened the 39th International Meeting of the Cospas-Sarsat Programme on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. The event, which runs through June 5, brings together more than 200 experts from 45 meeting - hosted for the first time in the UAE - was organised by the National Guard and the National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC) under the patronage of Major General Staff Pilot Saleh Mohammed bin Mejren Al Ameri, Commander of the National Guard.'This gathering stands as a testament to the UAE's visionary leadership in fostering global partnerships and sharing expertise, ultimately contributing to saving lives and strengthening emergency response systems in line with the highest international standards,' said Brigadier Rashid Al Naqbi, Director General of the NRSC, in his opening Knox, Head of the Cospas-Sarsat Delegation and Chairman of the 39th Joint Committee Meeting, called the UAE meetings a significant milestone. 'These annual meetings form a cornerstone in strengthening the global search-and-rescue framework. They provide a vital platform for coordination, knowledge exchange, and evaluation of emerging technologies and methodologies,' Knox said. 'We anticipate outcomes that will directly enhance the efficiency of lifesaving operations worldwide, increasing the speed and accuracy of responses,' he added. What is Cospas-Sarsat?Founded in 1982, Cospas-Sarsat is a global humanitarian programme that has saved more than 66,000 lives so far. 'It is a free, global system operating 24/7 via satellites, offering rapid and accurate location of distress signals anywhere in the world,' Saif Al Kaabi, Training and Exercises Section Head at the (NSRC), told Aletihad. Modern tools such as AI and drones are revolutionising rescue efforts, and the UAE is taking the lead, Al Kaabi the country joined the Cospas-Sarsat programme in 2009, it has grown into a major player deploying new technologies, including nine ground stations, AI-powered distress signal analysis, as well as a fleet of AW139 helicopters across five using advanced technology, UAE teams are able to locate missing people faster and reduce the hazards for the squads on the ground, Al Kaabi said, highlighting the importance of real-time data analytics. In 2024 until the first quarter of 2025, the NSRC has carried out more than 1,200 search-and-rescue operations within the UAE and beyond, solidifying the country's humanitarian leadership. 'We aim to support countries affected by disasters through partnerships and rapid-response tech,' Al Kaabi said. Despite the innovations in search and rescue, gaps and challenges remain, especially when it comes to reaching remote areas and standardising capabilities. 'That is why meetings like these are vital - for sharing expertise and improving global coordination,' the NSRC official said. On the meeting's first day, several closed events tackled key issues such as improving satellite alert systems, data-sharing processes, and enhancing collaborative international agencies.
Sharjah 24
3 days ago
- Sharjah 24
First COSPAS-SARSAT joint committee meeting held in UAE
The 39th COSPAS-SARSAT Joint Committee Meeting has begun in Abu Dhabi, hosted for the first time by the UAE. Organised by the National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC), the event runs from May 27 to June 5, 2025, gathering over 200 international experts. The meeting aims to enhance global cooperation in satellite-based search and rescue efforts, with participation from over 45 countries and major international organisations such as ICAO, IMO, and ITU. Through the COSPAS-SARSAT programme, the UAE is playing a proactive role in building strategic partnerships and sharing expertise to support global humanitarian and life-saving missions. Bertoia said the committee would discuss integrating the MEOSAR satellite system, which supports navigation systems like GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou, into COSPAS-SARSAT operations. She added that they plan to introduce two-way communication with distress beacons, allowing users to exchange signals with rescue coordination centres. Bertoia praised the UAE's support, stating that the country's facilities are enabling an efficient and productive meeting focused on advancing life-saving technologies. She noted the UAE's proposal to incorporate AI in search and rescue efforts and expressed the organisation's interest in learning more and potentially integrating these technologies into COSPAS-SARSAT's operations. The meeting is expected to yield significant results that will enhance international coordination and support technological capabilities in emergency response.
