Video: Dubai Police honour hero dog 'Paul' at action-packed K9 Show

Dubai: The region’s first-ever International K9 Show buzzed with excitement as Dubai Police welcomed families, dog lovers, and security experts to the Officers Club in Al Jaddaf over the weekend.

Hosted under the theme of community engagement and innovation in policing, the event featured action-packed demonstrations, global dog competitions, and interactive exhibits designed to entertain and educate people of all ages.

One of the show’s emotional highlights was the tribute to “Paul,” a black Labrador Retriever whose image was chosen as the event’s mascot.

Lt. Col. Sarah Al Mazrouei shared Paul’s story, recalling how he helped foil one of the largest drug smuggling attempts in history. In 2020, Paul detected 5.6 tonnes of Captagon pills—worth Dh1. 8 billion—hidden inside industrial cable reels.

More than 35.7 million pills of the illegal painkiller was stashed in the reels of electric cables containers. It was described as the biggest Captagon smuggling operation in the world.

The gang, spearheaded by a 70-year-old Arab based in Sharjah, attempted to smuggle the pills through a shipment of electricity cables from Syria to Jebel Ali. The shipment was to be re-exported to another Arab country, investigations showed.

The operation involved officers searching and investigating over 200 containers to detect the drugs. Within 10 days, well-trained Paul sniffed out the entire illegal consignment.

The successful operation, codenamed “Paul 2,” resulted in the arrests of the four gang members. It remains one of Dubai Police’s proudest achievements.

The three-day event, which began on Friday, also hosted two Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)-certified competitions featuring eight dog categories. Saturday’s spotlight was on German Shepherds, while Sunday welcomed all breeds.

With Dh50,000 in prizes up for grabs—Dh30,000 for FCI winners and Dh20,000 for public contests—the excitement was high for competitors and spectators alike.

Crowds enjoyed thrilling live K9 demonstrations from police departments across the UAE, highlighting skills in search and rescue, detection, and patrol operations. There was something for everyone—from pony rides and musical acts to mascot meet-and-greets with Officer Mansour and Officer Amna.

Visitors also had the chance to join educational workshops and expert talks covering everything from dog nutrition and behavior to breed care and modern training techniques.

Among the distinguished attendees was Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, who was joined by senior officials including Major General Expert Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Major General Ali Atiq bin Lahej, Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, and Lieutenant Colonel Salah Al Mazrouei, Director of the K9 Unit. Their presence reflected strong institutional support for an event that brought together the public and law enforcement in a festive, collaborative atmosphere.

Lt. Gen. Al Marri emphasised Dubai Police’s commitment to building closer ties with the community and redefining public safety as a shared responsibility.

“The K9 Show is part of our ongoing efforts to connect with the community, highlight the professionalism of our specialised units, and inspire the next generation with values of trust, safety, and innovation,” he said.

He described the show as a meaningful platform to spotlight the extraordinary capabilities of police dogs while aligning with Dubai Police’s broader mission under the Year of Community.

Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei added that the event was about more than showcasing K9 skills—it was about strengthening trust between the police and the public.

“Security isn’t just about uniforms or patrols,” he said. “It’s about partnerships, conversations, and a sense of shared purpose. Events like this help us build those bridges.”

The event also saw the signing of a new partnership between Dubai Police and Nestlé Purina Pro Plan. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Lt. Col. Salah Al Mazrouei and Rayan Kassarwani, Executive Business Manager of Nestlé PetCare Purina MENA, sets the stage for future collaboration in police dog training, research, and public outreach.