In its mission to maintain the safety and security of this dynamic city while lending a helping hand to its citizens, Dubai Police has come a long way in the last 50 years.
From 29 officers to today's 15,000, the police force has grown with Dubai and established its reputation as a safe, low-crime city.
Today, Dubai Police is seen as a community police force that cooperates with the public but also expects cooperation from the community.
On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Dubai Police aims to continue growing and improving along with the city it protects.
Gulf News traced the journey of Dubai Police and spoke to police officers who have witnessed the developments of the force and the changing perceptions of people about it.
Humble beginning
The late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who ordered the launch of regular police, established Dubai Police in January 1956.
After the order, civil guards who used to protect souqs were promoted as regular police. Naif Fort was the first location of Dubai Police.
After the issuance of the decree, under which His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was appointed as head of police and security, he concentrated on building national powers to take charge of various departments of the police.
Extensive and specialised courses were arranged to achieve this goal.
In 1975, UAE nationals started taking charge of Dubai Police, as the management was given to Colonel Abdullah Khalfan Abu El Haul and the Deputy Director was Colonel Mohammad Saeed Al Gaith.
In 1980, Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim was appointed as Chief of Dubai Police.
Police officers of various departments have shared their memories and views of Dubai Police and commented on the its role as a community police force.
Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police, at a seminar on the 'Definition of Community Police,' held in September 19, 2005, said, "Community police means a police that is acceptable among society, its word reaches people and gets response from them."
The idea of community police developed when the force decided to change the concept of police stations.
"We thought, 'why should we build police stations as forts which scare people and make them uncomfortable?'. We wanted police stations to be ordinary buildings like any other building in the country. We built the first police station of glass in Al Rifaa. After that, all police stations were made of glass," he says.
"I believe we cannot be a community police, unless we share with the people their worries, tragedies and happiness," says Lieutenant-General Tamim.
"If we succeed in strongly establishing the concept of community police, we will be able to discover more crimes, face the dangers of terrorism and large crimes because the public will be willing to cooperate with the police," he says.
Brigadier Abdul Rahman Rafiaa, Director of General Department of Community Service, believes that the biggest effort in improving this image has come from Lieutenant-General Tamim.
He worked relentlessly with other policemen, racing against time.
People were amazed with their efforts and police became well known on an international level.
"This would not have been possible without the personal and official support of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai," he says.
"I have witnessed the growth of Dubai Police since its beginnings. Public's perception about police changed 360 degrees. Before, they hated police, were afraid of them, and even disrespectful, whereas now the public looks upon the police with respect. This perception helps us perform our duties in a better way," says Brigadier Rafiaa.
Human resources
Brigadier Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Director, General Department of Criminal Investigation, says,
"Police now comes under a community perspective. Besides catching criminals and limiting crimes, they protect peoples' rights as well. Preparing human resources depends on direct dealing with the public. Police deals in a civilised way, even if a person is at fault."
He says the procedures create a level of comfort. Cases are dealt with quickly, avoiding complexity and having administrative support.
There is direct participation with the public and criticism and comments are welcome because they help police overcome obstacles that stop them from achieving their goals.
He added that Dubai Police aims to be a community and safety police. It does not take issues lightly when it comes to safety and security of citizens in the UAE generally and Dubai specifically.
"Today we are looking at an exceptional city that strives for excellence in all fields. Hence, we have to keep up with these developments and improve our way of dealing with the public and the security issues," says Brigadier Al Mazeina.
He says, "In the past, security knowledge among people was not high enough to evaluate the efforts of the police. Today, public awareness of security has increased and this is the real measure of evaluating police efforts."
In that past, the public was hesitant to participate with police due to complex procedures. Today, the strategy for dealing with people has changed.
"We took a modern administrative method in dealing with people that has encouraged them to participate with the police," says Brigadier Al Mazeina.
"I feel the image of Dubai Police is better now and this will help create a kind of trust which the public has already begun to feel, while dealing with the police," he says.
Brigadier Jamal Al Merri, Deputy Commander General of Dubai Police says, "Dubai Police has always supported serviceable activities to play an effective role in society. It strived to develop many social activities besides its other roles of fighting crimes and maintaining the safety of society... These are secondary roles Dubai Police do to bond with society and support its image of being a community police."
Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of General Traffic Department, says, "I hope we continue providing better services to the public. I want people to tell us what our errors are so we can correct them."
