UAE Law Enforcement Training

21 April - 2 May 2001

The UAE has become a transhipment point for heroin and precursor chemicals due to its proximity to Southwest Asian drug producing countries and the bustling free trade zone in Dubai. The UAE has been very active in drug control at both the Federal and Emirates levels; it has adopted a strategy for drug law enforcement and created a special counter-narcotics division for patrolling the Gulf in cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The UNODC Regional Office in Cairo has maintained an excellent relationship with the UAE, particularly with the largest Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Responding to a request from UAE authorities, the Cairo Regional Office organized an advanced drug control-training course for 30 officers from all GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman. UAE) from 21 April to 2 May in Abu Dhabi.

The training was conducted by experts from the West Yorkshire Police in collaboration with an expert from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces. The UNODC Regional Representative gave a presentation on recent international developments and trends in drug control and their implications for GCC Countries and concluded the seminar, awarding placards to senior UAE officials.

The training event received extensive media attention and praise from the GCC countries as the first UN training at the GCC level. The UAE Authorities said the UN training course was one of the most successful ever conducted in the country. In addition, the UAE authorities requested the Cairo regional office to urgently field an assessment and programming mission to design future multi-sectoral technical cooperation activities.