Police squads from around world hail UAE Swat Challenge for sharpening their skills

Special forces in Dubai contest strive to make streets safer and overcome scourge of drug and arms dealers

Police teams representing 50 countries are taking part in this year's UAE Swat Challenge. Victor Besa / The National

Elite police special forces teams from around the world have told how thriving in the heat of competition in the annual UAE Swat Challenge has given them an edge in the fight against crime.

A total of 120 teams from 50 countries are in Dubai to battle it out for $1 million in prizes through five challenges designed to test their mental and physical endurance to the limit, including rescue missions, assault courses and tactical scenarios.

Seasoned officers from Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and Colombia – who put their lives on the line on a daily basis to combat dangerous drug cartels and weapon traffickers – say the event provides an invaluable opportunity to sharpen their skills for the real-life challenges they face.

“We have acquired many skills and a wealth of information through our participation in the Swat Challenge,” Lt Joffre Ortega, from Ecuador’s tactical unit, told The National. “All of this will help us continue improving our performance in our missions back home.”

He spoke of how pitting his wits against the world's best police squads had helped him to keep order in situations fraught with risk.

“For example, inside prisons, crimes occur frequently. With the new techniques we’ve learnt by competing here, we can now enter these high-risk environments more effectively and control the situation with greater efficiency,” he said.

He added that Ecuador was facing rising crime rates, particularly in drug and arms trafficking, and hailed the Swat Challenge as an important exercise to ensure officers are fully prepared.

Sights set on success

Brazilian special agent Guedes Glauber (centre) with two members of his team who are competing in the UAE Swat Challenge. Photo: Salam Al Amir / The National

Brazilian special agent Guedes Glauber said his team had enjoyed a marked improvement in their tactical exercises, physical endurance, and field flexibility after participating in the competition.

“Although the equipment and weapons we use in Brazil differ from those in the challenge, the skills we gained, especially in firearm accuracy and tactical movement, have had a direct impact on our missions,” he said.

He emphasised improvements made in shooting accuracy with handguns. “We noticed significant progress in our shooting precision. Our tactical movement has become more agile, and we’re now faster and more flexible when responding to threats in real-life situations.”

Capt David Fernandez from Argentina’s team said this was their third UAE Swat Challenge, adding that each year they have recorded noticeable progress.

“When it comes to shooting accuracy and physical endurance, there has been a clear improvement,” he said.

He said the obstacle courses in the challenge simulate real-life conditions, making them an essential component in training for tactical operations in diverse environments, from urban settings to dense forests.

He said that Argentina’s anti-narcotics operations had benefited significantly from the drills practised during the competition, making it easier for teams to track and dismantle criminal networks.

UAE Swat Challenge - in pictures

Team Turkey in action at this year's UAE Swat Challenge. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Northern Ireland's Swat team

A participant from Turkey

Turkey's team

Kyrgyzstan's team

The Bulgarian team

Members of Turkey's team view their performance on an iPhone

Fans arrive to show their support

The Kuwait National Guard

Sau Paulo's women's team

Serbian fans

The South African team

Peru police general Carlos Romero

Philippine team members in action

UAE Swat snipers

Former head of Dubai Swat women's team

For Capt Daniel Montenegro and his Colombian Swat team, the impact of the competition has been profound.

“Our first year in the competition was an eye-opener. We came back this year more prepared, and our performance has greatly improved,” he said. “Our missions, whether in urban areas or deep in the jungle, require specialised preparation and complex planning. The experience gained here has enhanced our speed, operational efficiency, and overall expertise.”

He said Colombia has its own national commando team challenge, but the UAE event is more comprehensive, covering a wider range of technical and strategic aspects.

“This competition pushes us to constantly improve. We plan to return next year even stronger, as our team must be better prepared and better equipped each time,” he added.

The UAE Swat Challenge, 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. The event, staged at Dubai Police training centre in Al Ruwayyah, began on Saturday and will conclude on Wednesday.