Dubai: The Dubai Police Museum located in the police headquarters, opened to the public for the first time on November 19, 1987, highlighting the history of the force since it was established in 1956.
Although a fire ripped through the previous building of the museum in 2006, a majority of the historical artefacts were rescued.
The Museum was reopened on February 2, 2008.
Major General Abdul Rahman Mohammad Rafi, director of the General Department of Community Services at Dubai Police, said that in April 1995 the International Council of Museums decided, at a meeting in Jordan, to add the Dubai Police Museum to the record of Arab Museums.
Major General Rafi said the museum houses the largest and heaviest computer, which the first computer to be imported by Dubai Police from abroad. One can see in the museum old and new photographs; weapons and tools used by police in the past; in addition to old and new weapons and a collection of anti-riot devices; tools and equipment used in police stations.
One can also see on display the different ways followed by police in combating drug crimes, handicraft such as boats and sculptures made by prisoners at the Punitive Establishment in Dubai and educational traffic campaigns conducted by the Dubai police since 1984.
He added the photograph of the first Dubai policeman is presented in the museum, as well as the first police circular issued 42 years ago.
The three halls of the museum display some unique and rare items, including early communication devices and the first police logo.
At the entrance of the first hall, on the walls on the right and left, are photographs documenting the phases of the history of Dubai police.
It also includes the names of the events, including coverage of events and royal decrees and resolutions.
Notably, the Royal Decree of the appointment of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Chairman of the Police and Public Security, in Dubai in 1968. There is also a further decree on the appointment of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as Vice-Chairman of the Police and Public Security, in Dubai in 1997.
He explained that the display in the hall also includes photographs of the events that commemorate significant achievements of the Dubai police, such as graduation ceremonies.
The late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum made certain to attend those ceremonies in order to tile the graduates with badges and emblems. Some of those badges were for different kind of actions while some were in the areas of moral incentives in return for loyalty to work and sacrifice, as the Order of Courage that is given to individuals who are injured or assaulted during their duty.
It also includes a special section on the police in the GCC; such as old military uniforms, old and modern, various types of decorations and medals, photographs, logos and brochures.
Another hall is allocated for Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, the Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security and the former Dubai Police Chief. It includes the decree by which he was appointed as the chief of Dubai Police, and gifts presented to him.
In addition to the awards he received, such as the Honouring Award from the United Nations for being the most prominent Arab personality of 2001 for the fight against drugs. He was also awarded the Gold Pin on April 4, 2007, from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which is the highest decoration granted to the first military figure.
The Golden Jubilee hall includes images that cover the festivities in Dubai to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Dubai police. This anniversary showcases the achievements of the Dubai Police, at all levels: local or regional, Arab or international.
Visitors get the chance to familiarise themselves with the historic sequence of the formations of successive leaders of the Dubai police commanders and officers and their military ranks.
And it includes a special corner with various commemorative photographs. One of them is of the late Mohammad Saeed Bouhimed, the first policeman at the Dubai Police Force in 1956.
Another important historical picture for the first logo designed for the Dubai police, picture of the first order issued in the Dubai police, on April 4, 1968, the first version of the Dubai police Act 1966, the first issue of Al Amn magazine, and pictures of members of the Dubai police in their military uniform.
The museum has three other main halls, which house unique and rare collections.
For instance, the first Dubai police logo created by Peter Clayton, the first Dubai Law Book published in 1966, the first Dubai police training batch and the first graduate class of Dubai Police College, among them was Lieutenant-General Dahi Khalfan Tamim.
Some old communication tools such as the first telegraph machine, first marine radar used at the port and several other wireless communication devices are also on display in hall one.
The centre of attraction is the first computer used by the Dubai Police. Despite its large size, it was the latest technology then and it made Dubai police one of the best equipped in the region.
In the Social Participation Hall one can see anti-narcotics, criminal investigation and forensics displays, with a separate area for exhibits related to Dubai Prison.
Large collections of confiscated items reveal the different techniques used by drug dealers in their attempt to smuggle drugs into Dubai.
Displays reveal foiled attempts of smuggling drugs in fruit, clothes, letters and cards, packed food products, musical instruments, furniture and even oil barrels.
One section deals with tragic airplane and helicopter crashes.
There is a copy of the Quran, which was found at the site of a plane crash where everything else was burned to ashes.
This hall includes also a special section of the traffic awareness campaigns. They are replicas of posters of the traffic security awareness campaigns organised yearly by the Dubai police in order to reduce traffic accidents.
Another section of social participations, represented by participation of the Dubai police to save earthquake victims in Bam in Iran, and some other countries.
A special section that displays Iraqi weapons, which have been brought in from Kuwait after its liberation in 1991.
It also includes exhibited articles that are being sold at nominal prices for visitors: police slogans, watches, bags, medals, and cards commemorating the Golden Jubilee.
The museum attracts thousands of visitors each year, including international delegations.
- Opening hours: 8am to 2pm on weekdays
- Admission: Visitors must complete an online form from the Dubai Police website www.dubaipolice.gov.ae
