Dubai Police Maritime Unit carries out 458 rescue missions in 2019

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff Reporter

The Dubai Police Maritime Rescue Unit executed 458 maritime operations and attended to 26 marine accidents in 2019, Colonel Saaed Al Madhani, the acting director of Dubai Police Ports Stations revealed.

Dubai Police Maritime Rescue Unit confirmed their readiness to ensure the safety and the security of Dubai beaches and waters.

“We are ready to deal with emergencies on the beaches and we are alert to respond appropriately to any form of accidents,” the director of the Maritime Rescue at Dubai Police Marine, Lt Col Ali Abdullah Al Qaseeb Al Naqbi, said.

According to Lt Col Al Naqbi, Dubai Police have also identified nine points around which rescue forces comprising divers, rescuers and rescue boats based to secure activities on the emirate’s waters.

Lt Col Al Naqbi urged members of the public to call 999 in emergencies and to download Dubai Police’s Sail Safely app which helps warnings users about any delays during the trip; identify hazards; send distress requests directly to the Dubai Police; and facilitate rapid emergency response.

He also called on beachgoers to adhere to safety warnings and comply with advisories related to maritime currents. “If the flag was red then it is not allowed to swim due to rough conditions of the sea and high waves. People should follow safety instructions,” he added.

Separately, the Dubai Police Criminal Status of Financial Cases service has benefited more than 57 thousand costumers during 2019 a 724 per cent increase compared to the year before.

Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation at Dubai Police, revealed that the smart service, which is provided by CID in collaboration with the Artificial Intelligence Department at Dubai Police, has received about 359 thousand and 414.

Brig. Al Jallaf added that the force’s automated system “the Smart Status Notification Service” to inform individuals wanted from financial cases or have travel bans due to financial cases via SMS, saw a 319 per cent increase in 2019 compared to the year before.  

“This service aims at facilitating the settlement of cases against people concerned who intentionally or unintentionally are unreachable so they can come forward and settle their cases,” Al Jallaf explained.

“23,372 individuals have benefitted from this service,” the director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation continued.

“This service has helped decreasing the number of complaints, cutting time for clients, and reducing required procedures,” Brig. Al Jallaf added.