A remotely operated smart skimmer boat developed by the Dubai Municipality (DM) has been actively cleaning the emirate’s waterways, removing plastic bottles, tires, and other debris daily since the start of this year. The skimmer is an integral part of the civic body’s 14-boat fleet that patrols the 35-kilometer-long waterway around the emirate from sunrise to sunset, covering areas from Deira to the Dubai Water Canal throughout the year.
“All our boats are manned by a captain and manual laborers, but we aimed to create a solution that could be controlled and operated remotely,” explained Hussain Abbas Hamad, the Specialized Hygiene Section Manager at DM. “The skimmer features a hydraulic lift capable of carrying up to 1,000kg of debris, eliminating the need for manual labor. Currently powered by diesel, these skimmers will transition to electric operation starting next year.”
A prototype of the smart skimmer boat was showcased at DM's booth on the opening day of the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), which commenced in Dubai on Tuesday. Established in 1999, WETEX serves as a platform for showcasing the latest technological innovations and discussing trends in water, energy, environmental sustainability, and renewable energy.
Hussain noted that the development of the skimmer involved years of trial and error. “We initially tried technology from other countries, but it wasn’t well-suited to our local conditions,” he said. “A boat from the Netherlands, for instance, was more appropriate for their river environments rather than the Dubai creek. We learned from these experiences and subsequently developed our own system locally.”
The skimmer is equipped with cameras to prevent accidents, given the busy waterways with various types of boats. “Our creek is constantly bustling with activity,” he said. “To ensure the skimmer doesn’t obstruct other vessels, we’ve integrated artificial intelligence to identify the most common types of waste and their concentrations. Although we only started operations in January, it’s too early to provide detailed insights. By year-end, we aim to report the exact amount of waste collected, with plastic bottles being the most prevalent debris observed so far.”
Several companies at the exhibition focused on sustainability, unveiling innovative technologies. Enoc showcased their first smart biodiesel solar station, a biodiesel truck powered by solar energy. Named Enoc Link, the vehicle reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability. Faisal Al Qahtani, CEO of Enoc Link, explained, “Biodiesel is produced from waste cooking oil mixed with diesel. Our solar-powered truck delivers this biodiesel to clients, and we plan to introduce digital delivery of Adblue, a component that reduces carbon emissions when added to fuel.”
Kaltech Energy introduced a technology that provides cool water directly from taps in residential and commercial buildings, offering relief during Dubai’s hot summer months. Developed in the UAE, the water tank cooler employs advanced evaporative cooling technology to lower water temperatures by up to 25℃. Available in electric and solar-powered variants, the system operates efficiently without compressors or harmful refrigerants.
