Police in Dubai are taking a 'byte' out of crime - and using a love of gaming as a force for good.
Dubai Police's artificial technology centre started out as a digital training ground for budding officers, allowing them to hone their skills and senses in the virtual world before enforcing the law on the streets.
Such has been its success, the dedicated team of programmers and designers have gone on to produce gaming apps delivering an educational message to the wider public which have been downloaded tens of millions of times.
The centre, based in Al Barsha, was established in 2010 to produce games solely for the purpose of training police academy students on problem-solving skills and legal procedures they would encounter in their careers.
It is believed to be the only in-housing gaming development centre operated by a police force in the world.
We received positive feedback on the virtual training
“The idea of having our own virtual training centre was suggested by a Dubai Police officer after he obtained his PHD degree in a relevant topic,” said Captain Dawood Mohammed Hasan, deputy director of the centre.
Students had to pass a minimum of six out of 11 scenarios playing out before them in each semester, ranging from traffic incidents to armed robberies and murders.
“The games provide students with different tools they can use in order to decide which legal procedure to be taken in the scenario they are working on,” he said.
“Every procedure taken by the trainee is saved on the device then later assessed by the trainer.”
The digital strategy proved a hit, with those students who had undergone virtual training going on to perform significantly better in the field.
Close to 5,000 students sharpened their policing abilities on the simulations between 2010 and 2019.
“We received positive feedback on the virtual training. These trainings boosted officers’ competencies and also helped save money because they reduced the number of costly field trainings,” said Cpt Hasan.
In 2012, the centre expanded its operations after partnering with Khalifa Empowerment Programme (Aqdar), an organisation focused on a range of issues such as youth development and education under the guidance of Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
“The programme wanted us to develop educational games for the public, mainly children,” he said.
An extensive survey of more than 1,200 pupils and students was carried out to gauge their gaming interests before the first products were rolled out in 2013.
A number of popular apps have followed, including Aqdar Smart City, Theme Park, Badayer Racing and Camel Racing, which were designed to spread awareness on different topics including healthy eating habits, traffic safety, building knowledge and ethical values.
The apps - mixing entertainment and education - received the royal seal of approval and have also won a clutch of international digital and policing awards.
The games help impart valuable messages in a number of ways.
In Camel Racing, for example, the player's creature drops in performance if it eats unhealthy food, helping to encourage a good diet.
“They were launched separately by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed and the positive feedback was very strong from his highness personally,” said Capt Dawood.
Capt Abdulrahman bin Fahad, head of the scenario section at the centre, said other games have also been developed for visitors to smart police centres.
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
SNAPSHOT
While Huawei did launch the first smartphone with a 50MP image sensor in its P40 series in 2020, Oppo in 2014 introduced the Find 7, which was capable of taking 50MP images: this was done using a combination of a 13MP sensor and software that resulted in shots seemingly taken from a 50MP camera.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Results
6.30pm: Madjani Stakes Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m, Winner: RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Mnasek, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Grand Dubai, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m, Winner: Meqdam, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Cosgrave, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Madkhal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
