Striding ahead in a journey of excellence

Dubai Police Academy opens doors to individuals to continue their studies and get higher education degrees, while serving as police or armed forces officers.

It was the vision of His Highness Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to qualify UAE nationals, to continue the journey of development and growth.

The academy was built to perform as a foundation to prepare an educated and trained police officer.

The Police School was the first step toward establishing the Dubai Police Academy. The school was established in 1956.

In 1987, the school was transformed into the Dubai Police College and studies started on September 19, 1987.

In the beginning of the academic year 1988/89, the college started accepting students from GCC countries.

It included 51 nominated students and 30 students from Dubai Police. For the academic year 1996/97, it started accepting students from some Arab countries such as Yemen and Palestine.

On October 30, 1991, the college celebrated the graduation of its first batch of officers who got their degrees in law and police sciences.

On March 31, 2001, General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, issued the decision to change the name of Dubai Police College to Dubai Police Academy.

The Dubai Police Academy does not only train students physically. It instils in them Islamic values that contribute to the well-being of UAE society.

The academy has set itself a number of missions.

These include training high school graduates as officers with degrees in law and police sciences, providing evening classes for students with high school degrees for a degree in law and training students from different specialisations to get a diploma in police sciences.

New police staff are familiarised with laws and duties. The academy also prepares studies and research in legal fields.

It has higher education programmes in law and police sciences to help students get diplomas that qualify them for masters and PhD courses.

Besides, the academy organises summer training programmes for children between the ages of 10 and 15.

Apart from a hostel, there are study labs, restaurants, a mosque and a library. Sports facilities include a football field, basketball court, tennis courts and a swimming pool. There are special ranges for shooting and grounds for horse riding.

Students and graduates of Dubai Police Academy shared their experiences and memories of the academy.

"I joined Dubai Police in 1995. After I finished high school in 2001, I enrolled in the Academy to continue my higher education," said Eid Gareeb Eid, 32, a second year student.

"Studying at the academy provided me with experience in various areas. I took computer and office work courses. Those courses helped me do research and gather information. I learned discipline and how to deal with people.'

Abdul Hakim Humaid, 28, graduate, also joined the academy in 1995, and took courses in military, sports and shooting. "The practical courses I took at the academy helped me a lot."

Saif Ahmad Ali, 29, a graduate, says he joined the academy because as a member of the police force, he was given a chance to study as well.

"I took courses in computers and administrative sciences. After graduation, I worked as a security guard. Hence, I learnt how to deal with people.

"Now, I work at the Administrative and Security Sciences Institute at the academy. This is helping me learn administrative and public relations work."

Fatimah Ahmad Abdullah, 33, a graduate, transferred from Al Ain University to Dubai Police Academy in 2000.

"At the beginning, I found studying law very difficult, although I had lots of encouragement from my teachers. I worked hard and I graduated as a law student.

"My experience at the academy not only helped me in my work, but also my personal life. I learned to deal with people and their complaints."

Qadriyah Mohammad Al Marzoqi, 33, another graduate, says: "In the beginning, I thought of many universities and colleges, but I was told that the law programme at the academy is very good.

"The evening programme was suitable because I had a job in the morning. Studying law opens your mind to reality and helps you practically in different areas of your life."

Studies
A well-educated force

The academy consists of various colleges, institutes and centres. The College of Law and Police Sciences is one of the most important parts of the academy.

Their mission is to train students in law and police sciences licence to be officers in the police force. It grants degrees in law for Dubai police and interior ministry staff through the evening studies programme.

It also grants a masters and PhD in law and police sciences.

The college consists of several departments: Legal Sciences, Police Sciences, Training and Higher Education.

Next year, the college will add morning studies for a degree in law for citizens. The Centre for Research and Studies was established in 2003.

The evening studies programme enables members of the security field to resume university studies.

To enrol in the programme, students must have an approved high school degree with a grade point average of 60 per cent or higher. Students must be UAE or GCC nationals. Students should be members of the police force or armed forces.