A smart security surveillance programme has been introduced at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the regulatory body for the free zone technology park announced on Tuesday.

The Drones for Security Surveillance initiative will follow the Remote Piloted Aerial Vehicles guidelines issued by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). Operated by an authorised team of patrol personnel, the machines, equipped with a high resolution camera and a super-sensitivity microphone, will have the ability to record video and audio in real-time. Additionally, the camera will have the option of capturing flawless still photographs of a specific scene or location. The drone operators are equipped with a Terrestrial Trunked Radio (Tetra) system, which allows for SMS exchange between handsets.

Khalil Odeh Shalan, vice-president of Operation and Facilities at the DSO Authority, said: "The 'Drones for Security Surveillance' initiative is directly aligned with the smart city vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to drive Dubai's transformation into the smartest city in the world.

"The use of this new technology will significantly enhance the security team's response time and help us monitor the premises with ease. We ... would like to reassure our residents and business partners that the new system will not compromise the privacy of residential or commercial properties at DSO. "Authorisation of drone operations is currently limited to a select few from the security team at DSO. Presently, we have one drone patrolling the premises. We plan to add four more by the end of 2015."