UAE rescue facility to deliver helicopter emergency simulation training
Iain Hoey
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Rescue training centre planned for UAE operations
A new Security and Rescue Training Center (SRTC) is set to be built in the United Arab Emirates, with completion scheduled for the first half of 2028.
Sahra Group announced the project, which will be developed in partnership with AMST Group to deliver mission-based training for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services, law enforcement and commercial operators.
The facility is intended to operate as a regional training hub, supporting helicopter emergency response, water rescue and disaster response scenarios using simulated environments.
It will combine helicopter hoist systems, rappelling towers, Helicopter Underwater Egress Trainers (HUET) and maritime vessel simulators within a single commercial training site.
The centre will also include helicopter simulators mounted on cranes, alongside water pools and vessel simulators designed to replicate real-world operational conditions.
Training environments will incorporate darkness, rotor downwash and high noise levels to reflect operational pressures faced during emergency response.
Simulation systems designed to replicate high risk rescue scenarios
Sahra Group stated that the facility will support 24 hour training across multiple disciplines, with capacity for up to 4,500 personnel annually from sectors including civil defence, fire services and military operations.
The project represents an investment of AED 180 million (USD 50 million) and is designed to reduce reliance on live helicopter training, which can cost up to USD 10,000 per hour.
Synthetic training is expected to allow trainees to gain up to ten times more experience compared to live helicopter operations under controlled conditions.
The simulation systems are also expected to reduce CO₂ emissions per hour by over 99% compared to real helicopter use.
Jamal Alkaf, CEO at Sahra Group, said: “This facility represents a significant investment in the future of mission-critical training and positions the UAE at the forefront of global capability development.
“As the first facility of its kind, it brings together advanced simulation, integrated environments, and full-spectrum training in a way that simply does not exist today.
“Beyond its immediate impact, the SRTC is designed as a scalable platform for growth – capable of expanding its training offerings, technologies, and international partnerships over time.
“Our vision is not only to set a new benchmark for operational readiness, but to establish a global center of excellence that will attract organizations from across the region and around the world seeking the highest standards in safety, sustainability, performance, and efficiency.”
Wolfgang Lindlbauer, Senior Business Development Manager at AMST Group, added: “In every rescue, operation or critical response, the margin for error is measured in seconds – and in lives.
“This new facility will eliminate uncertainty by recreating the most demanding real-world conditions in a controlled, repeatable environment.
“Here, teams will master intense and hazardous scenarios, from complex helicopter hoist operations to high-risk water rescues and rapid deployment techniques.
“It will enable key personnel to build instinct, precision, and confidence to take forward into the field.
“The training starts with the basics and ends with the trainee completing mission simulation, very similar to reality.
“By combining advanced simulation with mission-based training, we are making world-class preparation safer, more accessible, and more cost-effective, ensuring that every crew member, responder, and operator is equipped to perform when it matters most.”
The centre is also expected to support helicopter-assisted industrial operations, including maintenance work on infrastructure such as power lines, wind turbines and offshore installations.
