The first prison in the Emirate of Dubai was Al Fahaidi Castle which is the present site of Dubai Museum. All convicts and detainees, even undutiful of parental rights, were imprisoned there. The society, at that time, considered their behavior as deviations from true religion and Islamic Law (Sharia).

In the mid fifties, and in the start of forming the courts in the Emirate of Dubai, the task of preserving security and administering the prison was entrusted to the Police Force, which was established at approximately the same time. The Police Force used Naif Castle as a prison. Hence Naif Castle became the first prison to be supervised and managed by the Police Headquarters. During the sixties, trading and industrial activities have increased which led to the influx of many workers looking for jobs. In turn, this led to the increase in population, and to the emergence of previously unknown social practices. That also led to the rise of crime rate and the appearance of unprecedented criminals modes. Naturally, this led to the increase in the number of offenders, and to the increase of pressure on prisons to accommodate more.

Since the structural design used for prisons was not consistent with the modern punitive philosophy, and in the light of the fact that the prisons housed many dangerous criminals like murderers and drug traffickers, the prisons became unsuitable for everyone and could not cope with modern thoughts in the school of scientific punishment. Serious thinking of alternatives were taken which was followed by drawing the plans and devoting of the efforts to establish a modern prison with all the elements of a decent modern life, a prison that is consistent with the broad lines the modern policy of punishment and its different aspects, whether technical, architectural, administrative, or humane. These efforts were, finally, materialized and the the plan of Dubai Central Prison was agreed upon, and the construction works began in the year 1973.

The General Headquarters of the Dubai Police still gives special attention to this vital institution, and in connection with this it has started founding modern prisons in Al 'Awir area. These are meant to conform to the rapid development, also, to accommodate all new and essential technologies that show consistency with modern theories in the school of scientific punishment. These theories advocate softening severe punishments, and taking care of convicted felons in an attempt to meet with the ultimate goal of criminal punishment remedy and reform.

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