Dubai Police adds floating 880kW Yangwang U8 to its patrol fleet

Dubai Police has added a Yangwang U8 to its tourist patrol fleet, a force better known for Lamborghinis, Bugattis and Ferraris on patrol.

The U8 is the large off-roader from BYD’s luxury brand Yangwang. It uses four electric motors, one at each wheel, for a combined 880kW, with a 49kWh battery and a petrol engine that acts only as a generator. Dubai Police quotes 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds.

It also has an emergency flotation mode that lets it stay afloat in deep water for up to 30 minutes, using its sealed motors to move back to shore. Driving the wheels on each side in opposite directions lets it turn 360 degrees on the spot.

The car was unveiled at the WETEX 2026 exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with Al-Futtaim Automotive Group, Yangwang’s UAE distributor.

Brigadier Saeed Al Hajri, director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation at Dubai Police, said the U8 would be used to increase police visibility at tourist spots including the Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard and Jumeirah Beach Residence.

As well as patrolling, it will act as a point of contact where tourists and residents can ask for help and information. Al Hajri said the U8 was part of the force’s move to bring more electric-powered vehicles into its fleet.

Yangwang is best known for the U9 supercar, which reached 496km/h in Xtreme form, and is working on a flagship luxury sedan. BYD has not announced plans to sell Yangwang models in New Zealand.