Labworx

The Dubai Police Department conducted more than 58,000 forensic tests last year, according to a spokesperson for the organisation. The tests were primarily used to further investigations within the emirate itself, with a very small percentage taking place in other emirates around the country and even further afield.

By developing cutting-edge genome sequencing technologies, Dubai Police have improved their methods of victim and perpetrator identification. Indeed, so successful has their use of forensic technology been that their methods have been patented and adopted by several leading police authorities around the world, highlighting the UAE’s leading role in the field.

Identifying victims and catching bad guys

Over 95% of the forensic tests were carried out within the Dubai emirate. One particularly effective technique was the use of a unique tool capable of analysing male DNA and pinpointing the culprit in sexual assault cases. It has since been taken on as a standard protocol by a number of international police bodies due to its accuracy and efficacy.

Meanwhile, the deployment of complete genome sequencing techniques can help to identify highly decomposed bodies or individuals with degraded DNA. For example, a team of 10 forensic specialists were sent to Libya in the wake of a natural disaster and their use of DNA analysis, fingerprinting and crime scene investigation methods were crucial in identifying bodies which would have otherwise remained anonymous. Some of the techniques deployed included blood spatter analysis, criminal profiling, facial reconstruction, forensic entomology, human remains recovery and underwater crime scene investigation.

Dubai Police are also now capable of assessing non-human samples. This is a major breakthrough in determining the genetic makeup of specific viruses, bacteria and other malicious entities, which could prove invaluable in the event of another epidemic or pandemic outbreak.

From strength to strength

The Dubai Police Department of Forensic Science and Criminology has come a long way. From humble beginnings in 1982, at which point it counted just a handful of individuals among its staff, the Department has snowballed into a highly trained team of 280 experts, many of whom hold academic qualifications such as bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and even doctorates.

In the last five years alone, Dubai Police have registered more than 140 intellectual classifications, launched 20 research projects and published almost 80 scientific papers in respected academic journals. Six patents have been approved for its innovative forensic technologies, with several of them being adopted by police bodies in other countries.

With an emphasis on collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the Department is an active member in some 262 local and international organisations and educational institutes. It has fostered 30 strategic partnerships with leading industry players from around the globe, while it has also received as many as 18 awards in a number of different forensic and scientific disciplines.

DOWNLOAD PDF