A journey that began 50 years ago with 80 officers

Abu Dhabi: Established in 1957 with 80 guards, the Abu Dhabi Police have come a long way during the last five decades. Last year the police celebrated their 50th anniversary.

In 1957, policemen were paid Rs100 to do their job. This was attractive considering the salary of Rs60 other guards received.

The police force was established in 1957.

In 1966, the father of the nation Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan recognised the need for administrative and executive authorities in the country to share the burden of taking the nation forward and balancing the ill effects of advancement. With this in mind, he formed a department grouping 80 policemen who had little proper training.

In the next year, he recruited a British officer to work for the department which was expanding. By 1959, the department had over 100 officers.

Following a visit to Kuwait, Shaikh Zayed decided to send four Abu Dhabi citizens for training.

Hammoda Bin Ali Bin Ganem Al Daheri, Suhail Bin Mohammad Al Muhairi, Jumaa Bin Ali Al Darmaki and Khalfan Bin Ali Bin Hafesh, were the four officers who rose to higher ranks within the department in later years.

The first commander of the Abu Dhabi Police was Shaikh Sultan Bin Shakh-boot Al Nahyan who in 1961 was assigned a civilian responsibility. Following this Shaikh Mubarak Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan took over the police department and general security affairs.

With the accession of Shaikh Zayed as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, the police department moved on from its establishment phase to its development phase.

Between 1968 and 1991, around 10,000 vehicles were registered, leading to the creation of a new department for traffic police.

In 1969 the criminal investigation department was set up. Laws were issued and the ministry of interior was established.

With the founding of the federation in 1971, Shaikh Zayed ordered the reorganisation.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was following developments of the police under the instructions of Shaikh Zayed.

Between 1974-96, the number of police personnel increased six-fold while the budget for the department increased 45-fold between 1971 and 1996.

In 1995, Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan took over as the commander of Abu Dhabi police. He launched the biggest development plans to develop the department making use of the most sophisticated technologies available. Today, the Police offer services at par with some of the best in the world.