In July, Operation Liberterra, a major Interpol operation led to the arrest of 286 criminals. Based in an Abu Dhabi operation room and drawing on Emirati expertise, the UAE played a vital role in the dismantling of transnational criminal networks. Adding to the hundreds of arrests was the rescue of some 430 human trafficking victims and the identification of 4,000 irregular migrants originating from 74 countries.
This five-day operation was successful thanks to information technologies enhancing the co-operation of global police to make the UAE, and the world, a safer place for everyone. Operations such as this are what makes Interpol indispensable to complex operations across dozens of countries.
Interpol is at a crossroads. Criminals have adopted the latest technologies, in some respects outpacing law-enforcement agencies. To face these emerging forms of criminality, law enforcement co-operation and capacities must be ever more effective. That means Interpol must integrate cutting-edge technologies into its operations. And that is why, if at the helm of its executive committee, I want to modernise and transform it. I want to enhance the exchange of information through Interpol databases, drive investment in the modernisation of IT communication equipment, and champion the development of new technologies that will support law enforcement.
Today we are seeing rapid advances in an array of technology fields, from Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing to cryptocurrencies and robotics. These exciting developments are a double-edged sword. They can bring tremendous benefits if used legitimately, and with the proper safeguards in place; or they could have damaging effects on society if misused for criminal purposes. It is critical that Interpol takes the lead in equipping itself and its members with the necessary innovations to fight against old and new forms of criminality.
In recent years, the UAE has taken on greater responsibility in collective efforts to resolve shared challenges, culminating in our election to assume a seat on the UN Security Council in January 2022. These efforts are motivated by the belief that we have a unique perspective and approach that can help our partners in the international community work together to move beyond polarisation and rivalry in pursuit of shared interests.
International law enforcement is another critical area where we believe the UAE has a unique offering, in our solutions-oriented mindset, as well as our rapid development of advanced capabilities. For these reasons, I am honoured that the UAE has put forward my candidacy to lead Interpol at this critical juncture.
The UAE’s police forces have gone through a technological overhaul; as we have ventured further into the 21st century, we have understood the importance of embedding critical technology. Our law enforcement agencies have adopted new technological advancements to modernise an outdated and bureaucratic system. As a result, the UAE has consistently topped global safety rankings. It is also a leader in the delivery of more than 200 policing services through smart platforms. It has truly been an impressive and welcomed evolution. The UAE can bring to Interpol, and the global law-enforcement community, the fruits of our approach to long-term investment in technology.
After all, co-operation is the strongest weapon against organised crime. Interpol draws its relevance, credibility and effectiveness from this diverse membership – and so must be more representative of their varied interests and needs. If I am elected Interpol president, I will foster diverse views and experiences, encouraging police officers from across the world to seek out leadership positions within its general secretariat.
In order to help make Interpol a more diverse organisation, I will also put Africa at the heart of my agenda. Terrorism, extremism, trafficking of humans, precious metals, stones and drugs do not just destabilise the continent – they affect the safety and stability of the world community. In my capacity as a member of Interpol’s executive committee, I recently visited nine West African countries to meet police officers on the ground, and discuss with my counterparts and elected officials how Interpol can best support them.
Interpol must integrate cutting-edge technologies and be more representative of its members
It was a privilege to be able to better understand the local challenges facing West African law enforcement agencies as they clamp down on transnational illegal activities. But the need for enhanced co-operation at all levels, and for upgraded technologies, was clear. That is why I particularly want to increase collaboration, tech knowhow and information sharing between Interpol and regional law-enforcement agencies such as Afripol, Aseanpol, among many others.
Even for an organisation with 194 members, I firmly believe finding harmony and success, respecting all traditions, beliefs and customs, is possible. Indeed, for Interpol to function, it is absolutely essential. The UAE stands as a beacon of multiculturalism and is one of the safest, most prosperous nations in the world. We, as a nation, have always focused on building consensus, and acting as a mediator, by focusing on what unites us rather than what divides us. Taking the best from every culture to work together is the mindset I will bring to Interpol, pointing to the UAE’s success as a living example of this philosophy.
Interpol’s General Assembly takes place from November 23-25 in Istanbul. Delegates will recognise that the world is changing – and so must Interpol. They will realise that if it is to best safeguard the world community, and replicate the success of Operation Liberterra, it must integrate cutting-edge technologies and be more representative of its members. If elected president, I will draw on the UAE’s role as a leader in tech-driven policing, and a bridge-builder in the international community, to work closely with the secretary general and the executive committee. Building wide consensus, I will transform Interpol into a modern, technology-driven organisation, geared to tackling today and tomorrow’s challenges head-on.
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
SPECS
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
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RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qais Aboud
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Almahroosa, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Sumoud, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Adventurous, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
RESULT
Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.