Dubai: Coinciding with International Volunteer Day, Dubai Police has honoured volunteers from the force and the wider community who devote their time to giving and humanitarian work, in celebration of their effective role in serving society.

The ceremony was attended by Major General Dr Ahmad Zaal Almuhairi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for the Administration and Finance Sector, Major General Hareb Muhammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for the Criminal Investigation Sector, a number of assistant commanders in chief, strategic partners, directors of general departments and police stations, officers, staff members and volunteers. 

Support for National Directives
Brigadier Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, Director of the General Department of Community Happiness, affirmed that volunteering in Emirati society has always embodied a deeply rooted civilised approach that is firmly anchored in the national identity. He noted that it is a core pillar of the humanitarian work system established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and that the wise leadership has continued this path with a firm belief that giving is the way to progress, prosperity and human advancement.

He added that the launch by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, of the Volunteering and Community Engagement Ecosystem is a practical expression of a clear Emirati vision that seeks to make giving a lasting institutional and societal value and a main pillar in the journey of comprehensive development. He stressed that the efforts of Dubai Police are a true translation of this deep national vision, through the consolidation of volunteering as a firmly rooted institutional value within its security and community system, via innovative programmes and initiatives that enable staff members and community members to participate effectively in achieving human security and social stability. 
Brigadier Al Mansouri also highlighted the Dubai Police Volunteering Platform, which embodies the volunteering ecosystem within Dubai Police and serves as a bridge of communication with the community. Since its launch, the platform has provided a variety of opportunities in humanitarian, cultural, service and preventive fields, allowing individuals to join according to their abilities and interests and enabling them to become part of the security and development system in Dubai as partners in protecting its achievements and preserving its wellbeing.

Millions of Volunteering Hours
Brigadier Al Mansouri explained that the platform has recorded 2,220,823 volunteering hours from 2018 to the current year. These hours were achieved by 20,889 volunteers from Dubai Police and 9,205 volunteers from outside the force, within 3,336 internal and external volunteering opportunities offered by Dubai Police through the platform. He stressed that Dubai Police does not view volunteering as a secondary support activity, but as a central pillar for achieving comprehensive security and quality of life and for building a cohesive society based on values of cooperation and altruism. This is especially important as the country concludes the Year of the Community and prepares for the Year of the Family, as directed by the wise leadership, in support of the national agenda for the growth of the Emirati family. 

Recognition & Appreciation
During the ceremony, Major General Dr Ahmad Zaal Almuhairi and Major General Hareb Al Shamsi, accompanied by Major General Dr Tariq Tahlak, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Community Happiness and Logistics Support, and Brigadier Ali Al Mansouri, honoured the sponsors and strategic partners of Dubai Police. Those recognised included Reem Obaid Al Awabed, Director of Community Programmes at the Community Development Authority, Suad Butti Al Shamsi, Executive Director of the Sharjah Award for Voluntary Work, and Khalid Al Teneiji, Senior Manager of the Sand Programme at the Emirates Platform, as well as the sponsoring entity represented by First Abu Dhabi Bank. 

The ceremony also honoured the volunteers who received the Volunteering Medal, namely Captain Asim Mohsen Shaye Abdulla and Corporal First Class Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad Bin Ajlan, in addition to volunteers in the platinum, gold, silver and bronze categories, the general volunteer category, volunteer leaders and volunteer coordinators. 
Furthermore, the event recognised the general departments and police stations that achieved the highest results in the volunteering performance indicators for the current year. These indicators covered several categories measured according to the number of volunteering hours, number of volunteers and number of volunteering opportunities. The General Department of Airport Security secured first place in category A, after excelling in both the number of volunteering hours and the number of volunteers, while the General Department of Protective Security and Emergency took first place in the number of volunteering opportunities within the same category. 

In category B, the General Department of Transport and Rescue ranked first in the number of volunteering hours, the number of volunteers and the number of volunteering opportunities. In category C, the General Department of Community Happiness won first place in all three indicators.

In category D, the Air Wing Centre took first place in the number of volunteering hours and the number of volunteers, while the General Department of Training came second in the number of volunteering opportunities.

 In category E, Al Muraqqabat Police Station ranked first in the number of volunteering hours, Bur Dubai Police Station ranked first in the number of volunteers, and Nad Al Sheba Police Station ranked first in the number of volunteering opportunities.
At the level of government initiative councils, the ceremony honoured the Positive Spirit Council and the Athletes Council, in recognition of their prominent efforts in promoting the concept of community volunteering among members of society and within Dubai Police. 

Community Volunteer Lab
Coinciding with International Volunteer Day, the General Department of Community Happiness organised the Community Volunteer Lab, which aimed to explore the future of community volunteering in support of security work, in order to develop it into a sustainable digital system built on data and behavioural incentives. Participants in the lab discussed several themes, most notably future transformations and local and global trends, the desired future state and the stages of interaction, participation and empowerment.