His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, witnessed the graduation ceremony of the first batch of the Professional Diploma in Policing Innovation and Leadership (PIL), which the General Department of Training organised in collaboration with the Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai at the Dubai Police Academy.

45 Officers, 30 Countries

During the ceremony, which was attended by various ambassadors, consuls, and senior Dubai Police officers, Lieutenant General Al Marri awarded graduation certificates to 45 officers from 30 countries who completed the four-month program.

Lieutenant General Al Marri congratulated the graduates, highlighting that the diploma is the world's first and aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, to achieve excellence and leadership and to enhance Dubai's global competitive edge.

Opening Remarks

Brigadier Muhammad Atiq Thani, Director of the Police Initiative Councils and the PIL diploma, opened the graduation ceremony by welcoming the officers from across five continents and emphasising the program's vision and goals of producing outstanding leaders capable of addressing global security challenges. He noted the program's focus on enhancing the UAE's international reputation and Dubai's role as a global hub for best practices and events, particularly in security and policing.

Brigadier Thani acknowledged the graduates' accomplishments over the four months, emphasising the sharing of experiences and knowledge, the building of new relationships that crossed geographical and cultural boundaries, and the fostering of international cooperation.

He concluded by expressing pride in the graduates, not only as alumni but as leaders, representatives for their countries, and partners in future endeavours. He further extended PIL's team gratitude to Lieutenant General Al Marri and all partners and sponsors who contributed to the program's success.

Graduation Ceremony

The graduation ceremony began with the UAE's national anthem, followed by a short video presentation about the PIL program, which showcased its phases, from the officers' arrival through their coursework and training to lectures and field visits across the country.

Graduates' Speech

Brigadier Justin Gavi from the Republic of South Africa delivered the graduates' speech during the ceremony. He thanked the Dubai Police for the specialised diploma program and noted that the initiative reflects Dubai Police's commitment to embracing innovation in its operations and strengthening international cooperation in this vital field.

Brigadier Gavi highlighted the gratitude felt by officers from various countries for the high-quality program and the efforts of the team involved in preparing the academic content and organising all arrangements and field visits. He hoped that the knowledge gained would lead to significant advancements within the police forces of the officers' home countries.

PIL

The PIL program comprised three main components: academic sessions, specialised tactical training, and life quality enhancements. These were delivered by 30 experts from internationally recognised institutions and totalled 586 training hours over 16 weeks.