Dubai Police adds Yangwang U8 with emergency flotation mode to tourist patrol fleet
Dubai Police has introduced a Chinese-built Yangwang U8 at WETEX 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The SUV can float and move through water in an emergency, rotate 360 degrees in place and serve as a public-facing patrol vehicle at tourist landmarks.
Mariam Al Mansoori
A new patrol vehicle for tourist landmarks
The U8's arrival is a collaboration between Dubai Police and Al-Futtaim Automotive Group, the exclusive distributor of Yangwang vehicles in the UAE. Police presented it at the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition as part of the force's sustainability efforts.
The Tourist Police Department, part of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, added the SUV to its fleet, according to Al Bayan. Brigadier Saeed Al Hajri, director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, inaugurated the vehicle at the exhibition.
Alongside patrol duties, the U8 will provide a point of contact between officers and the public. Al Hajri said it would be stationed at landmarks including Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Overdrive reported.
Electric drive with a gasoline generator
The U8 has a reported output of 1,197 hp and can reach 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. It can also complete a full rotation without moving forward or backward.
Although described as an EV, it is an extended-range electric vehicle rather than a battery-only model. As detailed in Wikipedia's U8 entry, a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine generates electricity but has no mechanical connection to the wheels. It charges a 49.05 kWh LFP battery that supplies four electric motors, with combined output listed at 880 kW.
The SUV was the first model from Yangwang, BYD's premium brand. Chinese sales began in April 2023. With a launch price of 1,098,000 RMB, the Premium Edition was then the most expensive mass-produced Chinese electric car.
What emergency flotation involves
The flotation system is intended for emergencies, including flooding. It activates automatically if the water exceeds the U8's wading limit. The gasoline engine then shuts down, the DiSus-P suspension moves to its highest setting, and the windows close automatically. The air conditioning switches to recirculation while the sunroof opens to provide an emergency exit.
In this mode, the U8 can remain afloat for up to 30 minutes and travel forward at 3 km/h. BYD requires a service-center inspection after the system has been used.
Wading depth varies by edition: the Premium Edition has a 1,000 mm limit, while the Off-road Master Edition's integrated snorkel allows it to wade through water up to 1,400 mm deep.
A fleet built over more than a decade
Dubai Police launched its luxury fleet in April 2013 with a Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, soon followed by a Ferrari FF. More recent arrivals include a Mansory-tuned Rolls-Royce Cullinan and an ultra-rare Ferrari Purosangue.
Other police forces have also put unusual performance vehicles to work. Japanese officers have used supercars to pursue underground racers in Tokyo, while Tesla Cybertrucks patrol in Las Vegas. In Greece, the Sigma Group pursued street racers in the 1990s using some of the fastest cars available.
