Dubai: In line with its efforts to strengthen future readiness in combating cybercrime, Dubai Police organised a scientific seminar titled “Emerging Digital Crimes and Their Impact on the Criminal Investigation System”, in collaboration with the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC).

The virtual event brought together officers and non-commissioned officers from the Criminal Investigation Sector and police stations to examine evolving digital threats and the role of innovation in addressing them.

Organised by the Hemaya International Centre at the General Department of Anti-Narcotics, the seminar forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance the capabilities of criminal investigation personnel, keep pace with scientific advancements in the digital domain, and develop future ready human resources equipped to tackle emerging challenges.

The seminar aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of criminal activities in the digital world, enable them to analyse emerging crime patterns and detection methods, and develop practical strategies for prevention and response.

Major General Eid Mohammad Thani Hareb, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said the seminar coincides with the observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June. He reaffirmed Dubai Police’s commitment to embracing scientific advancements across various fields and integrating them into policing through highly qualified national talent, in line with the organisation’s vision to remain proactive and future focused across modern scientific disciplines.

He noted that the rapid expansion of technology and the widespread use of smart applications without adequate controls or policies have contributed to the emergence of non-traditional crimes, including cybercrime, data theft, online blackmail, electronic fraud, attacks on critical infrastructure and cyber espionage. Unlike conventional crimes, these offences transcend geographical boundaries and can be executed more quickly and with fewer resources, requiring law enforcement agencies to continuously strengthen their technological infrastructure, develop specialised expertise and adopt proactive strategies to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Moderated by Captain Dr Saeed Al Jabri from the Electronic Crimes Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, the seminar featured presentations by Lieutenant Colonel Dr Saeed bin Abed Al Marri, Director of the Information Security Centre at Dubai Police, and Suhail Khaled Al Ari, Director of Security Support and Consultancy at DESC. Discussions covered digital infrastructure protection, AI driven cyber threats, securing digital platforms and systems, sharing indicators of compromise and cyber threat intelligence, responding to incidents involving emerging digital content, enhancing technological preparedness and addressing system breaches in their various forms.