Dubai: Dubai Police has graduated 1,402 students from 31 nationalities from its 2026 Summer Student Programme, bringing the total number of graduates since the initiative was launched in 2018 to 10,792 students from 175 nationalities.

The programme continues to strengthen youth development by equipping participants with leadership skills, discipline, community awareness and a strong sense of responsibility.

Nine Years of Growing Impact

The graduation ceremony was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme “Our Summer… Security, Happiness, Innovation and Leadership” in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (ICAD), Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, Al Ameen Service, Ferjan Dubai, as well as several Dubai Police general departments and police stations.

The ceremony was witnessed by His Excellency Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai, His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, His Excellency Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, and Her Excellency Aisha Abdulla Miran, Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai.

Dr Major General Ahmad Zaal Bin Krishan Almheiri, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Financial and Administrative Affairs, Dubai Police’s Assistant Commanders in Chief, Mishal Abdul Karim Julfar, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Abdulla Hamdan bin Dalmook, Chief Executive Officer of the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, Abdul Razzaq Al Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation in Dubai, and Maitha Al Shamsi, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Empowerment Sector, along with a number of directors of general departments and police stations, senior officers, and parents also attended the ceremony.

Putting Vision into Action

Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri said: “Guided by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to safeguard society, strengthen community awareness and instil the values of loyalty and belonging among young people, while supporting Dubai’s vision of enhancing quality of life and reinforcing the values that define our society, Dubai Police continues to implement sustainable community initiatives, including the annual Summer Student Programme organised by the Hemaya International Centre.”

Al Marri added: “Dubai Police takes pride in the outstanding performance of the students participating in the Summer Student Programme and commends their commitment and discipline throughout the training. We also highly appreciate the role of parents, who encourage their children to make the best use of their summer holidays by participating in programmes and activities that build character, develop skills, enhance self-confidence and strengthen their sense of responsibility.”

He continued: “Dubai Police remains firmly committed to supporting students throughout the summer holidays, believing in the importance of contributing to the development of disciplined, aware and educated generations capable of addressing future challenges in a positive manner. The programmes delivered by the Hemaya International Centre continue to evolve in line with emerging developments while meeting the current and future needs of students.”

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

Brigadier Khalid bin Muwaiza, Director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics, said the summer programme plays an important role in shaping students’ personalities, strengthening their sense of belonging, promoting respect for laws and regulations, and reinforcing awareness, courage and dedication to serving the nation.

He added that developing future generations requires sustained cooperation between educational institutions and government and semi government entities. Accordingly, the Hemaya International Centre designs its programmes using a carefully planned methodology that keeps pace with emerging needs and global developments.

Growing Reach, Greater Impact

Brigadier Dr Abdulrahman Sharaf Almaamari, Director of the Hemaya International Centre, said the centre’s initiatives have benefited 905,976 students, 629,396 parents and 8,650 teachers across 271 public and private schools between 2018 and 2026.

During the same period, the centre’s awareness content on social media reached more than 102.16 million beneficiaries. It also delivered 1,981 lectures, organised 788 student activities, 103 awareness exhibitions, 76 interactive competitions, and conducted 135 visits, training programmes and awareness campaigns.

Almaamari added that the number of parents benefiting from awareness programmes increased from 51 in 2018 to 629,345 in 2026. Surveys also showed a 96.9% improvement in student behaviour from parents’ perspectives, while satisfaction with the summer programme reached 95.3%.

A Diverse Cohort

The 2026 Summer Student Programme brought together 1,402 students from 31 nationalities, including 810 boys and 592 girls, representing 65 residential areas across Dubai. The participants included 627 Emirati students and 775 expatriate students, who trained across 28 centres.

The programme ran for 29 days and comprised 174 training hours delivered with the participation of 16 general departments, eight police stations, 45 lecturers, 44 military trainers, 27 civilian trainers, eight diving instructors, 31 supervisors, 40 volunteers and five camps organised in cooperation with partner government entities.

An Immersive Learning Experience

Students participated in military and sports training, the Junior Lifeguard course, diving, Future Investigator, Future Knight, cycling, Future Officers, school security, computer maintenance, first aid, Awareness Ambassadors, traffic awareness, football, educational lectures and field visits to Dubai Police facilities, including the K9 Unit, the 901 Call Centre, the General Department of Traffic and the Dubai Police Museum.

A Fitting Finale

The ceremony concluded with a military parade featuring student formations and marching displays, followed by a documentary highlighting the students’ journey throughout the programme. Guests also toured an accompanying exhibition showcasing the initiatives and projects of the Hemaya International Centre.