During the Covid-19 pandemic that brought unprecedented challenges for cities around the world, Dubai’s advanced digital infrastructure allowed the emirate to provide efficient and innovative services, ensuring business continuity and uninterrupted government processes. Dubai’s ultimate objective is to drive its transformation into a full-fledged smart city and a world leader in adopting advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) and Data Science.

Dubai’s drive towards a smarter future began in earnest in March 2014, when His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched Smart Dubai. An initiative to transform Dubai into the happiest and smartest city in the world, Smart Dubai aims to make Dubai a paperless city, ensuring all government transactions are 100 per cent digitised, saving 1,000,000 trees.

In November 2020, Smart Dubai celebrated the fifth anniversary of its journey to establish Dubai as the smartest and happiest city in the world.

Among organisations that are leading the smart governance drive is Dubai Police, set up in June 1956 in an abandoned fort in Deira. Dubai is among the safest cities in the world with very low crime rates. Dubai Police isn’t just one of the most efficient law enforcement agencies in the world, but also one of the most technologically advanced.

Dubai Police has remained at the forefront of utilising technology to remain a smart force in the service of the nation. By 2031, 25 per cent of the city’s patrol force will be comprised of robots. With 12 surveillance cameras per 1,000 residents, Dubai now ranks 17^th among cities with the most surveillance.

In 2017, Dubai opened the world’s first Smart Police Station (SPS). Since then, the city has seen the opening of another 15 unmanned police stations, providing round-the-clock services to the public.

The self-service SPSs are open 24×7 and offer 45 smart services without human intervention, in seven different languages, taking into account the global nature of the city.

Dubai Police uses AI software, facial recognition and movement tracking technology. The force has also deployed autonomous miniature patrol cars. Its new robot cops allow people to report a crime, pay traffic fines or chat with the officer in Arabic or English.