All-women teams excel at the UAE SWAT Challenge 2025

Dubai: The 2025 edition of the UAE SWAT Challenge marked a significant milestone with five women’s teams — both local and international — competing alongside their male counterparts.

Their remarkable skills, tactical strategies, and teamwork have captured the attention of audiences, showcasing the determination and expertise required to tackle demanding scenarios.

Held annually by the Ministry of Interior and hosted by Dubai Police, the UAE SWAT Challenge is a premier tactical competition in the policing and security sectors. The event brings together police, special operations, and security teams from around the world to compete in high-stakes challenges that test coordination, physical strength, tactical intelligence, and endurance. Participants, regardless of gender, face situations that mirror real-life operations in crime-fighting and law enforcement.

Team and individual excellence

Karla Nastri, Special Investigator from Brazil and leader of the Brazilian Women’s Team (GRT), reflected on the diversity of challenges and field designs that require both individual prowess and team collaboration. Nastri expressed excitement about her team’s first participation, alongside three other Brazilian male teams, saying: “We were inspired by the experiences of our colleagues in Brazil. Their stories motivated us to compete here, as this challenge fosters stronger relationships between police forces and allows us to share best practices. We’ve trained for six months and are committed to delivering an outstanding performance.”

Progress and achievements

Lieutenant Latifa Al Salman, leader of the Dubai Police Women’s Team, shared her pride in the progress made by both male and female competitors. As the first women’s team to compete in the UAE SWAT Challenge during its fourth edition, Lt. Al Salman recalled their remarkable achievement of finishing tenth out of 55 male teams in their debut. “This year, we are proud to see more women’s teams from various countries joining the competition, reinforcing the growing international reputation of this event,” Al Salman said.

“It highlights women’s empowerment in challenging roles within law enforcement and their growing participation in global competitions.”

Empowering women in tactical sports

Noura Al Shamsi, leader of the Sharjah Women’s Team, emphasised the importance of women’s participation in this prestigious global challenge, which marks a significant step forward for women in tactical sports.

“This competition reflects broader societal and cultural shifts in women’s empowerment across various fields, including policing and special operations. We trained for six months in Sharjah Police’s facilities to prepare for the physical and mental demands of the competition, and we’re excited to showcase our skills on the international stage,” she added.

Overcoming weather challenges

Major Bussaraporn Chaikaew, leader of the Thai Women’s Team, expressed enthusiasm about returning for the second time. Having learned from last year’s experience with the UAE’s warmer climate, she shared that the team had adapted by training in Thailand under cooler conditions. “This year, we’re better prepared for Dubai’s weather. The competition is a valuable opportunity to showcase the capabilities of Thai women and learn from the world’s best police teams,” Chaikaew said.

Kazakhstan’s debut

The Kazakhstan Women’s Team ‘Tomiris’ made their debut at this year’s event, alongside 11 Kazakh teams from various law enforcement agencies. Kyalbekova Balnur, a team member, expressed confidence in their performance after months of intense training. “We are excited to represent Kazakhstan at this prestigious global event, following the success of our male counterparts, such as the ‘Sardar Kazakhstan’ team, who finished third last year,” Balnur said.

Kazakhstan is the leading foreign nation in terms of the number of teams competing, with a strong focus on early training and comprehensive selection processes to ensure top-tier preparedness. “Our experience this year will help us perform even better next year,” Balnur added.

This year’s competition highlights the global shift toward more inclusive, diverse participation in tactical sports, as women continue to make strides in fields traditionally dominated by men. The UAE SWAT Challenge remains a platform for showcasing the excellence and dedication of law enforcement professionals worldwide.