Policing the UAE

Policing the UAE is the first textbook designed specifically for students, officers, and educators working within the unique legal, cultural, and operational context of the United Arab Emirates. Unlike international policing texts that assume a Western model, this book draws on local examples, legislation, and organisational structures to reflect how policing is actually delivered in the region today.

The book covers a wide range of topics including:

• crime investigation,
• road safety,
• organised crime,
• vulnerable victims,
• major events,
• and the growing role of artificial intelligence in law enforcement.

Each chapter connects theoretical ideas with real-life examples and case studies from the UAE, such as community engagement programmes and responses to global events such as Expo 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Written by former operational police officers and current educators, the book balances academic clarity with practical relevance. Reflective questions and exercises throughout encourage critical thinking and professional development, making it suitable for use across diploma, undergraduate, and CPD programmes. By integrating local practice with global research, Policing the UAE offers a groundbreaking model for police education in the region and provides a much-needed resource for those preparing to lead and serve in 21st-century law enforcement.

Jacqueline Sebire is an Assistant Professor at Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi, and an accomplished retired senior police commander with over 30 years’ experience spanning strategic governance, serious and complex crime investigation, leadership development, organisational transformation, and crisis management in policing. As an active academic, she combines research with real-world practice, contributing to areas such as domestic abuse, detective decision making, community safety, risk assessment, and police leadership.

Gareth Stubbs is Assistant Professor of Policing and Security at Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi. A former Chief Inspector and trained hostage negotiator, he has spent his career in frontline policing, leadership development, and academic instruction across the UK and UAE. He holds a PhD in Policing from Canterbury Christ Church University, where his research explored the influence of social networks on police recruitment. Dr Stubbs is an Honorary Research Fellow at Kingston University and has published widely on recruitment, positive action, and predictive modelling in policing. He regularly speaks at international conferences and serves as a peer reviewer for leading criminology journals.