Sahra Group and AMST partner for first of its kind facility in the UAE set to provide world-class training for critical emergency response in the Middle East and beyond Advanced Helicopter and Water Rescue Simulators will ensure teams are fully prepared for the operational challenges of live-saving missions
Groundbreaking centre will allow for more efficient, safe, sustainable and cost-effective training
A new multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art Security and Rescue Training Centre (SRTC) – the first commercial facility of its kind in the world – is set to be built in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It will serve as a regional hub for advanced, first-class, certified mission-based training for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), law enforcement, special forces, and commercial enterprises across the world.
Created by investment firm Sahra Group, the groundbreaking facility, opening in 2028, will be constructed and operated in partnership with the worldwide leader in solutions for aircrew training and simulation, AMST Group.
The SRTC will be the only commercial capability in the world to combine high-fidelity simulation environments for Helicopter Emergency Response and OPITO Training, including helicopter hoist systems, fast roping and rappelling towers, Helicopter Underwater Egress Trainers (HUET), and maritime vessel simulators to enable safe, realistic training for high-risk scenarios that cannot be safely and efficiently replicated in live training. It will enable 24/7 training for medical emergency response, water rescues, rescue in natural disasters, special forces and counter-terrorism operations as well as high-speed boat operations. SRTC will provide a full service offering for all disciplines.
The centre will house helicopter simulators suspended on cranes that fly in the facility – sounding and feeling like the real thing – as well as fast vessel simulators and a water pool for rescue and emergency egress in water, to mimic real world rescue and mission scenarios. As well as freeing up real, physical assets for operational use, these training programs can be completed at a fraction of the cost of live training. Training will incorporate realistic environmental challenges, including darkness, rotor downwash and high noise levels, ensuring teams are fully prepared for the pressures of live-saving missions.
With an investment of AED 180 million (USD 50 million), the facility has the capacity to train up to 4,500 personnel annually across Police, Coast Guard, Civil Defence, Medical Service, Fire Service, Army, Navy and Special Forces, as well as commercial customers from the tourism, oil, gas and energy sectors. The centre will also play an important part in disaster management, as helicopters are instrumental in first response. It will be a regional centre of excellence and a critical piece of safety and operational infrastructure for the UAE and wider MENA region.
Jamal Alkaf, CEO at Sahra Group, says: “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 centre of excellence that will attract organisations from across the region and around the world seeking the highest standards in safety, sustainability, performance, and efficiency.”
Currently, most rescue missions, military operations, and industrial tasks must be carried out under tight time constraints, often in harsh weather, and intensely stressful conditions – placing aircrew and operational teams at significant risk. While helicopters are involved in over 1,000 rescues each year, traditional training using them is often costly, time-consuming, weather-dependent, and inherently dangerous when conducted in real-world conditions. Synthetic training increases training efficiency significantly, as trainees can typically gather 10 times the experience in simulation compared to live helicopter training.
SRTC overcomes those challenges, providing a controlled environment where teams can train safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively to a superior standard, with refresher courses accessible every year. Teams using the centre can save thousands in costs by switching from real helicopters in training scenarios, which often cost up to USD10,000 per hour to hire, fuel and operate. The helicopter simulators in the SRTC will run at a fraction of the cost and are considerably more sustainable, cutting CO₂ emissions per hour by over 99% compared to a real helicopter flight.
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 a 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 will also uniquely support helicopter-assisted and water-based industrial and infrastructure missions, including maintenance and repair work on electrical power lines, wind turbines, cranes, telecommunications equipment and offshore oil and gas installations.
Sahra Group and AMST have begun the process, with completion and official opening scheduled for the first half of 2028.
About the Author
Dave Staddon - Publisher
Co-Founder of MDM Publishing Ltd. He has worked in fire publishing for close to 30 years. The company's portfolio includes International Fire Protection, International Fire Fighter, Asia Pacific Fire, Gulf Fire & UK Fire.
