UAE

Transport

Dubai police give a glimpse of flying squad cars in new video

High-octane feature shows patrol vehicles from 1956 to 2022 and beyond

The National

April 05, 2022

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Police in Dubai gave their social media followers a hint of what the future of patrol cars might look like in a video shared on Facebook.

The five-minute, story-led video, released during the inaugural World Police Summit, tracks the evolution of Dubai Police patrol vehicles throughout its 66-year history.

Starting in 1956, the story begins with CB radio communication between Bur Dubai patrol and Naif police station reporting "blue light sightings" – referring to the police car's flashing lights.

In the ensuing pursuits, each police patrol car is overtaken by a newer one, starting with a Land Rover Defender being outstripped by a Mercedes-Benz 240 in 1978.

The number of vehicles increases until the entire supercar fleet is involved in the chase.

Dubai Police has 35 supercars, which are often seen at tourist areas in the emirate and national events such as the Dubai Marathon and the UAE cycle tour, as well as various parades and celebrations.

Dubai Police will welcome 400 smart patrol cars over the next five years. All photos: Dubai Police
Dubai Police will welcome 400 smart patrol cars over the next five years. All photos: Dubai Police
The cars will help to monitor Dubai's roads.
The cars will help to monitor Dubai's roads.
They are equipped with the very latest technology and equipment.
They are equipped with the very latest technology and equipment.
The smart cars will communicate with the police's control and command room to help keep the city safer.
The smart cars will communicate with the police's control and command room to help keep the city safer.

Public engagement is the reason Dubai Police wants to expand its garage of luxury cars.

The video also shows the latest technology that Dubai Police has at its disposal, including facial recognition and use of drones.

The force's latest addition to its fleet – the Dh196 million ($53.3m) Ghiath smart patrol vehicle – is featured towards the end of the video.

The force recently announced plans to add 400 Ghiath vehicles to its fleet.

Produced by Emirati carmaker W Motors, the Ghiath is one of the first cars to be fully manufactured in the UAE.

The expansion of the fleet will include unmanned vehicles, rapid intervention vehicles, rescue vehicles, electric vehicles and bicycles.

In scenes reminiscent of the film Back To The Future, the video concludes with a flying police car, decked out in Dubai Police livery, landing in the middle of a circle of patrol vehicles.

Dubai police unveils AI patrol bots - in pictures

The M01 at the World Police Summit, which brings together law enforcement officers, police departments and organisations from more than 50 countries. All photos: Salam Al Amir / The National
The M01 at the World Police Summit, which brings together law enforcement officers, police departments and organisations from more than 50 countries. All photos: Salam Al Amir / The National
The M02 is buggy-like and can drive on narrow roads.
The M02 is buggy-like and can drive on narrow roads.
The Dubai-built police vehicle Giath is custom made and equipped with artificial-intelligence systems.
The Dubai-built police vehicle Giath is custom made and equipped with artificial-intelligence systems.
The Giath is on display at the inaugural World Police Summit in Dubai.
The Giath is on display at the inaugural World Police Summit in Dubai.
The next generation of patrol cars at the World Police Summit.
The next generation of patrol cars at the World Police Summit.
The M01 will be able to drive on all roads.
The M01 will be able to drive on all roads.
The Giath at the World Police Summit at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The Giath at the World Police Summit at Expo 2020 Dubai.
While you're here
While you're here
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto

Price: From Dh39,500

Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder

Transmission: Four-speed auto

Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km

SCORES IN BRIEF

New Zealand 153 and 56 for 1 in 22.4 overs at close
Pakistan 227
(Babar 62, Asad 43, Boult 4-54, De Grandhomme 2-30, Patel 2-64)

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

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Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, Group C
Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade
Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Updated: April 06, 2022, 7:26 AM
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