Dubai Police have signed agreements with two universities in the emirate to offer third level education to inmates.
American University in the Emirates and Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University will offer degree courses for prisoners.
The four-year degree programmes are being offered in subjects including business administration and accounting.
Dubai Police have secured 40 places for inmates at the two universities, said Brig Ali Al Shamali, director of punitive and correctional establishments at Dubai Police.
He said costs for the courses have been eliminated for each prisoner, who will be able to connect with the university lectures through remote access.
“We will handle the fees for expatriate inmates and, as they can't be physically present in universities, they will be able to join online,” said Brig Al Shamali.
If a prisoner completes their sentence before the end of the course, the universities have agreed to make arrangements for them to complete the course from another location.
Thirty-two people aged between 28 and 40, who are serving jail terms for financial or drug offences, have so far registered to join the courses.
Some of them have obtained their high school certificates in prison through an education programme that has been in existence in Dubai since 1979, to give inmates an opportunity to finish their second level education.
A total of 1,767 people have completed the programme since it was established.
In 2021, 466 prisoners took high school exams.
As many of the prisoners come from different backgrounds, where English isn't their first language, a number of inmates had to pass the test of English as a foreign language, which is one of the university requirements.
“We conducted a first course strengthening inmates' English language skills for the TOEFL and soon will begin with a second one,” he said.
“Sixteen of them passed the tests and I really hope they will pursue their university education".
After they pass the TOEFL exams, prisoners are able to start the university course and attend lectures online from one of the prison's smart halls.
“The hall has been equipped with loudspeakers, screens, laptops and iPads and is connected to the Wi-Fi,” he said.
“It's one of 11 other smaller halls and can accommodate around 38 people.”
Dubai Police hope to sign similar agreements with more universities, including the Higher Colleges of Technology and Skyline University College.
“Education for inmates, regardless of their nationalities, is a top priority for the Dubai Police commander-in-chief,” said Brig Al Shamali.
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Director: Matty Brown
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
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