Aspiring UAE police officers will be given the chance to pit their wits against elite crimefighters from around the globe at this year's UAE Swat Challenge in Dubai.
Three teams from Dubai Police Academy will be among 114 squads drawn from 48 countries competing for a total of Dh1 million in prizes at the sixth annual event, being staged at the Dubai Police training centre in Al Ruwayyah from February 1 to 5.
Six student teams will line up for the competition, marking the first time academies have taken part.
The UAE Swat Challenge offers seasoned task forces an opportunity to sharpen their skills, while promoting co-operation and the sharing of international expertise.
Entrants will be put through their paces in a series of challenges, including tactical exercises, assault and obstacle courses, officer rescues and tower climbs, designed to assess tactical acumen, mental focus and physical endurance.
First Lt Yaser Al Zarouni, leader of the Dubai Police teams said the force's student teams were ready to rise to the challenge next month.
“The students were trained by the same coaches who prepare Dubai’s specialised tactical units,” he said.
“Their passion and drive are impressive, and they are eager to prove their capabilities. If they win, they will receive the same prizes as the professional teams.”
Five all-women teams and eight debutant outfits will be hitting the ground running in Dubai.
The UAE will be represented by three teams from Abu Dhabi Police, three from Dubai Police, one from Ajman Police, one from Fujairah Police, one from Ras Al Khaimah Police, three teams from the Police College under the Ministry of Interior, two teams from the Ministry of Interior’s Special Security Forces, and one team from the National Guard.
Gearing up for success
A new voluntary test, the "Mountain Biking Challenge", is scheduled for January 31 and will serve as a curtain-raiser for the high-octane action.
Riders will navigate a winding, 1.35km track then dismount to compete in a shooting challenge before racing to the finish line.
“The challenge not only allows teams to show their tactical excellence but it also fosters international collaboration,” said Maj Gen Abdullah Al Ghaithi, assistant commander in chief for operations at Dubai Police.
“Organising this large-scale event involves significant logistical co-ordination, including the secure transport, storage, and return of weapons and equipment brought by participating teams.
“However the UAE is capable of managing such operations smoothly, further underscoring the country’s leadership in hosting global events.”
A panel of 33 referees will lay down the law during the five-day extravaganza, with 28 officials drawn from Duabi Police joined by five experts from the US.
“The referees have undergone workshops and rule review sessions to maintain high standards of judging,” said Maj Jamal Al Zaabi the head of the technical committee.
The UAE Swat Challenge, which was launched in 2019, is organised by Dubai Police and held under the patronage of Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
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Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
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- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
