Dubai Police embraces foresight as the foundation of modern security

Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, has emphasised the critical role of anticipatory thinking in reshaping how the force prepares for tomorrow's challenges, moving beyond reactive responses toward proactive strategy.

The architecture of modern policing requires more than swift reaction to emerging crises. It demands the capacity to perceive what lies ahead, to study the horizon of change and to build systems nimble enough to meet threats before they fully materialise. This is the philosophy now anchoring Dubai Police’s approach to security and operational readiness.

During an inspection of the Future Foresight Centre, Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri articulated a vision in which technology, human insight and strategic planning converge to strengthen institutional preparedness. The Centre, operating under the strategic framework “Pioneering Foresight for Proactive and Sustainable Security”, has become the intellectual engine driving this transformation, built upon four foundational pillars: enhancing future readiness, supporting decision-making, developing future visions and strategies, and establishing an integrated system for proactive monitoring and early warning.

The work being undertaken at the Centre reflects the broader commitment to embrace artificial intelligence and advanced technologies as essential instruments in security operations. The Commander-in-Chief directed acceleration in deploying AI capabilities across field and police work, recognising its power in predicting emerging risks and fashioning preventative solutions. Yet technology alone cannot sustain excellence. He stressed equally the importance of investing in human capital, equipping officers with the analytical tools and foresight skills necessary to interpret data and translate findings into actionable strategy.

The Centre’s achievements to date paint a picture of substantial intellectual output and practical application. Between its establishment and September 2026, the team produced fifty-five research reports, seventeen future visions, seventeen scientific studies and twelve future scenarios. Complementing this scholarship were eleven implemented projects, forty-two dialogue sessions and fifty-two workshops, lectures and seminars. These outputs have earned recognition including the Minister of Interior Excellence Award for 2025 in the category of Best Entity in Future Readiness, awarded for the second consecutive year, and international accreditation in future foresight from the Global Innovation Management Institute for the period from 2023 to 2028.

Brigadier Dr. Expert Hamdan Ahmed Al Ghasia, Director of the Centre, has guided the development of a comprehensive security vision extending to 2040, examining global trends, technological and societal shifts, analysing emerging risks and constructing forward-looking scenarios. The Commander-in-Chief emphasised the importance of strengthening partnerships with academic institutions, research bodies and think tanks both locally and internationally, recognising that institutional excellence flows from the exchange of expertise and the transfer of best practices across borders.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

Dubai Police’s investment in foresight capability represents a broader philosophical shift within the UAE’s security infrastructure toward intelligence-led, anticipatory governance. As the force develops tools to read future trends and construct scenarios extending to 2040, it strengthens the foundations upon which the emirate’s stability and prosperity rest, ensuring that security services remain ahead of potential challenges rather than perpetually responding to events that could have been foreseen and mitigated.

The emphasis on integrating artificial intelligence with human analysis, building partnerships with academic and research institutions, and investing in officer development reflects values increasingly central to the UAE’s strategic vision. These approaches, once considered innovative, are becoming standard practice across the emirates’ institutions, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable excellence and institutional evolution that benefits not only security operations but the broader ecosystem of innovation and foresight that defines contemporary Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Source: WAM