Despite its location in the Middle East, a volatile region, the UAE is an oasis of peace and security. The country’s commercial capital Dubai remains one of the safest cities in the world. Dubai Police is the primary law enforcement agency of the emirate. To help the city’s police maintain law and order and to offer prompt help to citizens, residents and visitors in distress, Dubai has a network of more than 300,000 surveillance cameras, said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Dubai is set to play host to millions at the six-month-long Expo 2020 that will begin on October 1, 2021. Weeks before the start of the mega-event, Sheikh Mohammed visited the Dubai Police headquarters and assessed the force’s smart capabilities. “I reviewed the artificial intelligence systems that assign police patrols across Dubai without human intervention and our system of 300,000 smart and round-the-clock surveillance cameras that ensure safe living for our citizens and residents,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted through his official Twitter account @HHShkMohd.

During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed launched Drone Box, an unmanned aerial system that will help Dubai Police reduce its emergency response rate from 4 minutes and 40 seconds to 1 minute for criminal reports. The Dubai Ruler tweeted that the service will officially launch during Expo 2020 Dubai.

“Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world. Tourists have the best travel experience, citizens and residents live in safety, and investors embark on businesses ventures with confidence in our rule of law”

Sheikh Mohammed

“During my visit to the Dubai Police Headquarters, we launched Drone Box, a platform to dispatch drones across Dubai to reduce response time to criminal and traffic reports from 4.4 minutes to 1 minute. The service will officially launch during Expo 2020 Dubai,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

Sheikh Mohammed also reviewed the progress of the Oyoon (Arabic for eyes) project, an AI surveillance program introduced in January 2018 that has helped raise Dubai’s profile as one of the world’s safest cities. Oyoon allows Dubai Police to respond immediately to incidents even before they get reported to the command unit. It has been successful in helping prevent crime, reducing traffic accident-related deaths, preventing negative incidents in residential, commercial and vital areas.

READ MORE: Why Dubai is the world’s safest city to live and visit

The UAE’s leaders follow judicious and pragmatic policies when it comes to maintaining social, political and commercial relations with other nations in the region and beyond. The country’s law enforcement agencies are among the world’s best, and they follow a zero-tolerance approach to crime and terror.

“Thanks to our police officers and sophisticated security apparatus, Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world. Tourists have the best travel experience, citizens and residents live in safety, and investors embark on businesses ventures with confidence in our rule of law,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

Besides ensuring the community’s safety, the UAE’s efficient and effective security and law enforcement system also boosts investor confidence, which is a prerequisite for economic progress. “Security is a critical element in the sustainable development of a nation and its ability to grow and thrive. Dubai Police and other security organisations have played an instrumental role in creating a safe and secure environment by maintaining exceptional standards of professionalism,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

During the visit, Sheikh Mohammed toured the Dubai Police Command and Control Centre. He praised Dubai Police for its contributions as a frontline force in combating the pandemic. The police force has played an increasingly important role since March 2020, when the pandemic led to a massive disinfection drive across the emirate. Dubai Police followed exemplary standards while encouraging residents to maintain hygiene standards and precautionary steps while enforcing strict safety protocols when necessary.