For the first time, the General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defense has announced the deployment of the “Falcon” firefighting drone, enhanced with Artificial Intelligence (AI), as a new addition to its operational plans for the Hajj season of 1446 AH (2025).
This advanced drone is specifically designed for firefighting and rescue operations in high-altitude or otherwise challenging-to-access locations.
The “Falcon” drone boasts an operational flight time of up to 12 hours at high altitudes and can carry a payload of approximately 40 kilograms. It is equipped with a versatile multi-purpose firefighting system, along with integrated rescue, control, and safety systems. Its capabilities include thermal cameras and the ability to broadcast live footage from the site, which can be directly linked to the command and control center.
The “Falcon” drone offers diverse applications for high-rise buildings, industrial sites, areas containing hazardous materials, crowded environments, and forest fires. Its key advantages include rapid response speed, reduced risk to personnel, and enhanced decision-making capabilities through real-time imaging, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
In a related development, the Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz inspected Sunday the readiness of the Hajj Security Forces to perform their field tasks in ensuring the security and safety of the pilgrims.
This took place during the Minister’s patronage of the annual ceremony organized by the forces participating in this year’s Hajj season, 1446 AH.
In a speech during the ceremony, Director of Public Security and Chairman of the Hajj Security Committee Lieutenant-General Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Bassami affirmed that the wise leadership has mobilized all capabilities to serve Hajj and care for the pilgrims, making it a top priority.
He noted that these significant efforts have produced exemplary outcomes in crowd management, coordination, planning, and integration among various sectors, achieving the desired results and ensuring the pilgrims experience the highest levels of security and safety.
Lieutenant-General Al-Bassami also emphasized that the Hajj Security Forces are at the highest level of readiness and fully capable of responding firmly and effectively to any threats to pilgrims’ security or disruptions to their rituals, ensuring a safe environment for them to perform their rites.
The ceremony included field exercises simulating various security scenarios, displays of security vehicles and advanced equipment, in addition to showcasing security aviation and specialized vehicles used during the Hajj season.
The ceremony was attended by several princes and officials.
