Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi)
The Abu Dhabi based dog training academy, Worldwide K9 UAE, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Jordan National K9 Center on Thursday, in a bid to integrate and develop professional dog training within the region.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR Abu Dhabi 2024) at ADNEC this week by representatives from both companies.
Canine Training Manager at Worldwide K9, Jay T. Malley told Aletihad that the MoU would bolster efforts to standardise and share best practices across the GCC and wider Middle Eastern region and further the usage of dogs in security.
“At the end of the day this is building on the commitment that we have here in the UAE to keep me and you safe,” Malley said.
“Bringing all of the different players in the GCC is going to help us reach our vision.”
Having only been established as a separate entity at the start of this year to act as the regulatory umbrella for all Jordanian K9 units, the Jordan National K9 centre, represents an influential partner for the Abu Dhabi-based academy.
The centre is a private entity owned by the Jordanian Armed Forces and provides courses in SWAT and special operations including the use of live munitions, flash bangs, smoke grenades, and tactical explosive breaching. The MoU will seek to transfer this specialised knowledge to extend the services offered by the Worldwide K9 academy.
Malley said that the MoU would further the strategy to eventually integrate advanced technology to enhance the abilities offered by the dogs. This was the emphasis of the firm’s stand at the ISNR where they showcased much of what the future had to offer.
“Integrating advanced security technology into our canine units isn’t just about staying ahead of the curve, it’s about ensuring our teams have every advantage possible to protect lives and uphold safety standards,” he said.
“By merging cutting-edge innovations with the instinctual abilities of our loyal companions, we forge an unparalleled force capable of navigating the complexities of modern security challenges with precision and agility.”
Some of the solutions showcased by the academy included GPS tracking which enables real-time location monitoring during search and rescue missions and patrols. As well as, body cameras, akin to those used by law enforcement officers allowing for the capture of footage for performance evaluations, evidence documentation, and behaviour analysis.
The firm is also integrating communication systems allowing for coordination between canine units and their handlers. It also adds fitted sensors that could detect a range of substances, from explosives to narcotics, working in step with the canines’ natural sensory abilities.
Abu Dhabi Police currently deploys a canine unit for a range of security and domestic applications. The specifically trained sniffer dogs are frequently deployed by the police to sniff out illicit substances at various locations around the emirate including ports and airports.