Dubai Police Genomic Center Launched by Crown Prince Hamdan

Dubai’s Crown Prince, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also serves as the Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, inaugurated the Genome Centre at the General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology within Dubai Police. This significant development solidifies Dubai Police’s prominence in the realms of technology and science.

The Genome Centre is a specialized facility committed to enhancing law enforcement efforts by advancing forensic identification, genetics, and metagenomics testing. This endeavor aligns with the UAE’s National Genomics Strategy, aimed at establishing a comprehensive framework for genomic programs and positioning the country as a hub for groundbreaking research and innovation in the field. Dubai Police now stands at the forefront of global law enforcement agencies in the domain of genomic science.

The inauguration ceremony took place during Sheikh Hamdan’s visit to the Dubai Police Officers Club, where he was received by Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, the Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, and other high-ranking officials.

During the visit, Sheikh Hamdan reviewed the organizational structure of the Genome Centre, consisting of four main sections: Human Genome, Metagenome, Bioinformatics, and Biotechnology. The Human Genome section focuses on analyzing deteriorated samples to ascertain individuals’ genetic backgrounds and perform molecular autopsy testing. The Metagenome section specializes in examining non-human and environmental samples to identify their species or strains. The Bioinformatics and Biotechnology sections are dedicated to employing artificial intelligence for statistical analysis based on genomic data.

The establishment of this new center is complemented by Dubai Police’s commitment to sponsoring select employees and students for specialized genomics education at prestigious international universities.

Additionally, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on Dubai Police’s groundbreaking forensic entomology project, a pioneering initiative in the Middle East that employs a regional database in this field. Dubai Police has acquired specialized expertise in forensic science to determine causes of death. The Genome Centre’s forensic entomology project achieved a remarkable milestone by reducing the time required for obtaining critical forensic results to less than 24 hours, setting a new global standard. This accomplishment greatly enhances Dubai Police’s capabilities, supported by expert training and a comprehensive scientific database.

During his visit, Sheikh Hamdan also explored the impressive results obtained through Dubai Police’s ‘Brain Fingerprint’ system, which has been instrumental in solving various criminal cases. This advanced system measures suspects’ brainwave activity when exposed to images associated with crime scenes or tools used in the commission of crimes. The ‘Brain Fingerprint’ system provides precise insights into suspects’ memory of the crime, elevating the professionalism and accuracy of security operations.

Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri expressed gratitude for Sheikh Hamdan’s unwavering support and emphasized Dubai Police’s dedication to continuously enhancing its capabilities to ensure safety and security. This commitment reaffirms the UAE’s position as a regional and global model for progress and prosperity.