Leading Voices Convene in Dubai for Landmark Anti-Narcotics Conference

The National Drug Enforcement Authority and Dubai Police bring together international experts, policymakers and researchers to address drug-related challenges through security, health, legislative and therapeutic perspectives at the World Police Summit.

The landscape of drug-related threats has shifted dramatically in recent years, moving beyond traditional enforcement into the digital realm where networks exploit social media, encrypted communications and electronic payment systems to reach vulnerable populations. As these challenges grow more complex and cross-border in nature, a singular response from any one nation proves insufficient. This reality forms the foundation for a significant gathering in Dubai this November.

The National Drug Enforcement Authority, in cooperation with Dubai Police General Headquarters and the World Police Summit, will convene an Anti-Narcotics Conference on 17th November at Dubai World Trade Centre, as part of the Summit running from 16th to 18th November. The event brings together leading international and regional experts, specialists and researchers, with participation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Union Drugs Agency.

The Conference programme unfolds across five thematic pillars. The first examines the global scale and spread of drug problems according to the latest reports and statistics. The second explores the shift from criminalisation toward therapeutic and treatment-based approaches, reflecting evolving international practices. A third theme addresses cross-border interdiction and the dismantling of global trafficking networks through joint action. The fourth considers how global health bodies are addressing the physical and mental health impacts of drug use. The fifth looks to the future role of artificial intelligence in combating criminal networks.

Major Fahad Abdullah Haikal, Official Spokesperson for the National Drug Enforcement Authority, emphasised that the Authority’s participation follows the directives of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Authority. The NDEA, established under Federal Decree-Law on 3rd August 2025 as an independent federal entity reporting to the Cabinet, serves as the UAE’s principal authority for combating drugs. Its mandate encompasses developing drug-related policies and legislation, dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks, overseeing treatment and rehabilitation, regulating chemical precursors, and strengthening international cooperation.

Dr. Abdullah Al Khayat, Adviser at the National Drug Enforcement Authority, spoke to the evolving nature of the threat. Trafficking networks increasingly employ synthetic psychoactive substances sold in forms that obscure their danger, targeting young people through digital channels. Prevention, he emphasised, is no longer supplementary but rather the first line of defence. This requires strengthening digital awareness among children and young people, enabling families to engage in meaningful conversation, embedding prevention programmes across educational, sports and community institutions, and leveraging modern technology and data analysis to detect emerging methods of promotion.

The Conference includes two panel discussions and a fireside session exploring lessons from Australia and Colombia. Two workshops will address manufactured substitutes for natural drugs and the use of artificial intelligence in analysing drug cases. Two brainstorming sessions will focus on integrated risk management models and the role of institutional practices in developing training curricula.

Brigadier Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics at Dubai Police General Headquarters, also announced the Anti-Narcotics Excellence Award, which received more than 39 entries from around the world this year. The award recognises specialised institutions, researchers and stakeholders working across field operations, precursor control, treatment and rehabilitation, and awareness and prevention. Winners will be announced during the Summit.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Conference represents a pivotal moment in the UAE’s commitment to addressing drug-related challenges through comprehensive, science-based approaches. By bringing together national institutions, international organisations and leading experts under one platform, the event demonstrates the nation’s leadership in shifting the global conversation from purely enforcement-based responses toward integrated models that encompass prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and technological innovation.

For Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE, the gathering underscores a shared national responsibility in protecting future generations. The participation of major health, education, justice and community development institutions signifies the multi-sectoral commitment required to build a safer society. The exchange of proven practices and practical recommendations emerging from the Conference will directly inform the National Strategy for Combating Drugs 2024–2031, strengthening the nation’s institutional response and reinforcing partnerships with international partners.

Source: WAM