Dubai Police Museum offers arresting tales of Bugatti-driving force


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai Police might be most famous worldwide for its fleet of high-end patrol vehicles, from Bugattis to G-Wagons, but, unsurprisingly, there’s plenty that goes on behind-the-scenes of what has become known as one of the world’s most technologically advanced law enforcement bodies.

If you want to get a sneak peek into what goes on, then the Dubai Police Museum, which is tucked within the gated Dubai Police General Headquarters in Al Twar 1, offers a surprisingly intimate and fascinating insight into the evolution of Dubai’s police force since its formation in 1956.

Officially established in 1987, the museum serves as a tribute to the city’s focus on safety, order and innovation. It charts how a modest team of 29 officers, based out of the historic Naif Fort, transformed into a force that polices one of the world’s most exciting cities.

The museum is home to several exhibits. Antonie Robertson / The National
The museum is home to several exhibits. Antonie Robertson / The National

Why go there?

This is one for history lovers, tech or criminology enthusiasts, or simply anyone curious about how Dubai became one of the world’s safest cities. It offers a clear yet uncritical narrative arc that traces the force’s growth alongside Dubai’s meteoric rise.

It’s especially interesting for those wanting to understand the intersection of tradition, strategy and innovation in local governance. But also anyone who wants to see some cool policing equipment and a room filled with confiscated items used in smuggling attempts.

What you’ll see

Visits begin with a 16-minute video in a small viewing room that sets the scene with a digestible introduction to Dubai Police’s origin story, subtitled in English. The film recounts key milestones, like the dramatic robbery of a commercial store just three days after the police force was founded, a crime solved in record time, helping set the tone for Dubai’s reputation for swift justice.

A collection of rifles and guns at the museum. Antonie Robertson / The National
A collection of rifles and guns at the museum. Antonie Robertson / The National

Once through the intro, you’re free to explore the rest of the museum at your own pace. The exhibits are wide-ranging and thoughtfully presented, from old photographs and archival documents to display cases filled with old communication devices, antique and modern weapons, and riot gear used over the decades. A section is dedicated to police uniforms and badges, highlighting the stylistic and functional changes across time.

There are also displays on major criminal cases and drug busts, including a compelling collection of confiscated items that reveal the breadth of the police force’s operations.

Another highlight is the nod to the different operational divisions, such as the K9 unit, the air wing and the mounted police division, which began with only four officers and nine horses.

See how the uniforms have changed over the years. Antonie Robertson / The National
See how the uniforms have changed over the years. Antonie Robertson / The National

Star attraction

One of the most interesting aspects of the museum is its celebration of Dubai Police’s technological advancement in years past.

They were pioneers in the Arab world, introducing digital fingerprinting systems and DNA analysis at a time when such methods were far from standard, according to our tour guide.

There's a room dedicated to older technology used in the past by the force. Antonie Robertson/The National
There's a room dedicated to older technology used in the past by the force. Antonie Robertson/The National

A particularly memorable display showcases the first British-made computer acquired by the force in the early 1970s.

What to know before you go

Don’t expect a flashy or overly interactive museum – it’s more old-school in presentation, with a quiet charm and plenty of stories if you take the time to dig into the details.

Some of the captions are in Arabic only, so non-Arabic speakers may miss some nuance, but the staff are exceptionally friendly and happy to explain exhibits in English. Their warmth and enthusiasm add a personal touch that makes the experience.

Plan to spend about an hour here, maybe slightly longer if you’re particularly keen on reading everything or asking questions.

Ticket price and location

Entry is free, but a visitor permit is required in advance via the Dubai Police website. The application process is straightforward, and approval came through quickly for us.

Open Sunday to Thursday, 8am–2pm. The museum is located inside the Dubai Police Headquarters, Al Twar 1, and is easily accessible by car, taxi, or Dubai Metro (nearest station is Al Qusais).

Places to go for free coffee
  • Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day. 
  • La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
  • Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
  • Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg

Ajax v Real Madrid, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports

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Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.

Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.

"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km

Price: from Dh362,500

On sale: now

Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
 

UAE SQUAD

Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Ahmed Raza, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Chirag Suri , Zahoor Khan

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How Beautiful this world is!
Jawan
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EA Sports FC 25
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS

Biosafety Level 1

The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.

Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.

Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.

Used as teaching spaces.

Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.

Biosafety Level 2

These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.

Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.

Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1

Biosafety Level 3

These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.

Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.

Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.

Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.

Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.

Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.

Biosafety Level 4

The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.

All material must be decontaminated.

Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.

Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.

Entrance must be via airlocks.

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Fanney Khan

Producer: T-Series, Anil Kapoor Productions, ROMP, Prerna Arora

Director: Atul Manjrekar

Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rajkummar Rao, Pihu Sand

Rating: 2/5 

Updated: June 25, 2025, 7:03 AM