DUBAI // Police say they are working to curb the "trend" of cable thefts, noting that more than 190 such cases have been investigated in the last two yaers.
"We spotted an increase of cable thefts, through the analysis of crime trends, and developed special security programmes to combat them," said Col Mohammed Nasser, the deputy director of the Criminal Investigation Department of police station affairs.
So far this year, 84 cases involving more than 484 suspects have been reported. In all of 2010, there were 108 cable thefts involving 554 suspects, police said. The thefts occur mainly in open remote areas and constructions sites.
"Cable thefts are not a crime confined to Dubai or the UAE, but are a Gulf phenomenon which is thriving due to the big demand on these cables in our region," said Col Ahmed bin Ghalita, head of the crime prevention department at Dubai Police.
The price of one tonne of copper is about Dh35,000 but police did not disclose the total quantity stolen. In Al Qusais alone, however, more than Dh245,000 worth of copper cable was stolen this year, amounting to more than half of all thefts.
Among those arrested in the past two years were 26 traders who owned scrap warehouses.
Police said elements of three security programmes were aimed at curbing cable thefts.
The first "Security Gaps" looks for security problems at sites that might be attractive to theives.
"It is a programme where we identify security gaps and we put measures in place to fill them. We also try to engage members of society to report anything unusual they notice. In a nutshell it is a programme which aims to give police more eyes, ears, hands and mouths," Col bin Ghalita said.
Through this programme, police and the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority have set up surveillance at the 2,000 electricity substations scattered across the city. Communications towers and many construction sites were addressed with the help of their owners.
The other two security programmes, "Dubai Eyes", which allows officers in the operations room to look at live CCTV footage, and "Gates of the City", which concentrates resources on the emirate's exit points, also address cable theft, officials said.
"The majority of the stolen items are taken out through the east and we aim to control these exits to catch the perpetrators," Col bin Ghalita said.
Al Qusais, meanwhile, got more attention from police in the form of officers, cameras and public outreach.
"The programmes have started to slowly pay off, as so far this year we have witnessed a slight decrease in such crimes," said Lt Col Ahmed al Merri, head of the criminal investigation unit.
wissa@thenational.ae
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Team Angel Wolf Beach Blast takes place every Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
