Hundreds attend Dubai Police summer festival

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Dubai Police, represented by the Positive Spirit initiative and Lahbab Police Station, has successfully concluded the “Fun & Joyful Summer 2023” festival at the Happiness Tent.

The summer festival, which lasted for a month, aimed to enhance the quality of life, foster social cohesion, and create a happy neighbourhood environment.

Brigadier Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, Director of the General Department of Community Happiness and President of the Positive Spirit Initiative Committee, announced the festival’s success in drawing 1,023 participants, including students and parents from 12 nationalities.

“Throughout the festival, participants enthusiastically engaged in 16 diverse competitions, attended 14 informative lectures and workshops, and enjoyed entertaining and educational trips,” he indicated.

Brigadier Al Mansouri reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Positive Spirit Initiative to strengthen its endeavors within the community and achieve its objectives of fostering security and social awareness, raising awareness about Dubai Police’s traffic and criminal-related services, and strengthening communication channels between community members and the police.

He also lauded the festival’s organising team for their remarkable efforts, emphasising the festival’s notable positive outcomes, such as strengthening trust in Dubai Police, enhancing community happiness, discovering hidden talents, attracting volunteers, promoting the value of volunteering, offering training in new skills, utilising leisure time with educational programmes, and strengthening social connections.

Colonel Saeed Ali Al Malai, Acting Director of Lahbab Police Station, pointed out that this festival plays a vital role in achieving Dubai Police’s strategic objective of community happiness and a safe city.

He highlighted the festival featured diverse and significant topics, such as the impact of volunteering on society, cyberbullying, sign language, first aid, fire safety, how to contact the police in emergencies (on 999) and non-emergency situations (on 901), online extortion, reporting cybercrime through the e-Crime platform, traffic safety, and other subjects that concern various segments of society.

The closing ceremony was attended by Colonel Saeed Ali Al Malai, Acting Director of Lehbab Police Station, along with First Lieutenant Saeed Ateeq Al Maqoudi, Lieutenant Mohammed Khamis Al Badwawi, Lieutenant Mohammed Al Khazraji, Lieutenant Maryam Abdullah, Fatima Buhajeer, and Warrant Officer Khaled Dhaif Alla.

Recently, the Dubai Police, represented by the General Department of Criminal Investigation, announced the commencement of the second edition of the “Dubai Police Electronic Games Championship,” which will be held at the Dubai Police Officers Club in Al Jaddaf.

This announcement was made during a press conference held at the Dubai Mall, attended by a number of officers, journalists, and online games enthusiasts.

Major Abdullah Al Shehi, Deputy Director of the Anti-Cybercrime Department, emphasised that the championship, which is sponsored by Dubai Police’s Esaad Centre, aligns with the continuous activities carried out by the Dubai Police aimed at increasing community awareness, particularly for the younger generation.

“The championship is organised in collaboration with Que Club, Four04, UAE Smashers, and Teleoise, adding to the thrill of competition and providing meaningful engagement for participants during their leisure time,” Al Shehi added.

He further underscored the importance of balanced electronic gaming and the necessity to stay clear of its negative implications, particularly concerning drug promotion, psychotropic substances, and medically addictive drugs that could detrimentally affect users, their families, and society.

Manal Ibrahim Haji, Director of the Security Media Department, clarified the championship’s objectives and its focus on raising security awareness against cybercrime and online dangers.

“Our aim is to promote a balanced culture of dealing with electronic games, encourage the preservation of general and mental health among users by practising moderation in gaming, and raise awareness about the importance of maintaining privacy.”