Dubai Police prepared an advanced study that identified 36 future security challenges through the input of 507 specialists and experts drawn from 30 countries, according to a report by the Emirates News Agency. The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to anticipate evolving risks in an increasingly complex global environment. Officials emphasised the value of international collaboration in mapping these potential threats during specialised workshops that incorporated scenario planning and simulation technologies. The force has pursued such forward-looking assessments to maintain operational effectiveness amid rapid technological and societal shifts.
The study engaged participants who examined a range of anticipated issues, the Emirates News Agency reported, though specific categories of the 36 challenges were not detailed in the initial announcement. Dubai Police organised the work as a dedicated session focused on scenario planning and identifying alternatives, the force’s own media release stated on March 10, 2026. This approach allowed experts to test responses to hypothetical situations that could emerge in the coming years. Such exercises have become a regular feature of the force’s training calendar.
This latest assessment builds on the World Police Summit that Dubai Police has hosted in recent years, Arab News reported in a January 2025 preview that anticipated more than 17,000 law enforcement and government specialists from 130 countries would attend the gathering. The summits have repeatedly highlighted themes of cybersecurity, organised crime and the integration of artificial intelligence into policing operations. Previous editions featured dedicated tracks on women’s roles in law enforcement led by senior officials including representatives from the FBI. These platforms have consistently stressed that security challenges cross national borders and require coordinated solutions.
Dubai Police has positioned the study within its broader strategy of adopting proactive measures, a force statement noted. The initiative aligns with the force’s established practice of partnering with global counterparts to exchange knowledge on emerging risks. Officials indicated that findings from the 36 identified challenges will inform future training modules and policy adjustments. The work also complements ongoing investments in smart technologies already deployed across Dubai’s security infrastructure.
A separate Dubai Police workshop held earlier in 2026 employed gaming and simulation tools to explore alternative futures, the force’s website stated. That session reinforced the same collaborative model used in the larger study involving the 30 countries. Participants in these programmes have included both regional and international specialists with expertise in diverse security domains. The repeated emphasis on such activities underscores the priority placed on anticipation rather than reaction in the force’s operational doctrine.
Global security leaders who have taken part in Dubai Police events have pointed to the value of shared intelligence in addressing transnational threats, according to coverage by ARN News Centre in May 2025. The 36 challenges identified in the latest study are expected to contribute to updated frameworks that other agencies in the region may also consult. Dubai Police has made the results available to participating experts for continued dialogue. The force plans to integrate select recommendations into its annual strategic planning cycle.
