A total of 80 community initiatives implemented by Dubai Police between 2017 and 2026 generated a social and economic impact valued at AED 647.9 million, while reaching around 3.8 million beneficiaries, according to a specialized study prepared by the Dubai Police Future Foresight Center to measure the “Social Return on Investment of Dubai Police Community Initiatives – SROI.”
The initiatives covered a wide range of areas, including education, health, awareness, and sports. Over nine years, they contributed to creating a clear and measurable impact across the community by supporting quality of life, strengthening crime prevention efforts, and reinforcing trust and communication between members of the public and Dubai Police.
80 Initiatives Supporting Quality of Life and Community Security
Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said that “the results of the study reflect the success of the approach adopted by Dubai Police General Headquarters in designing and implementing sustainable community initiatives that are based on the actual needs of the community, strengthen community partnership, and support quality of life.”
He added that “the results of implementing the initiatives from both security and economic perspectives are a clear indicator of their positive impact in achieving their objectives.”
The findings reflect Dubai Police’s commitment to developing community initiatives based on genuine public needs, strengthening its role within society while helping achieve long-term security and social objectives.
AED 647.9 Million in Social Return
The study relied on a scientific methodology to measure community impact and social return on investment by linking community initiatives with a number of security and social indicators. It also examined their contribution to strengthening the sense of safety, preventing crime, and improving overall quality of life.
The results showed that the social return generated by the initiatives was distributed across several areas, with AED 542.7 million attributed to economic and community contributions.
Another AED 5.7 million was linked to community initiatives distinguished by their “accessibility and ability to enable participation by all members of society.”
Initiatives under “community well-being,” which contribute to creating a city where people feel safe, supported, and socially engaged, generated around AED 5 million in value.
Quality-of-life initiatives accounted for AED 31.7 million, while initiatives classified under “public trust,” which help reinforce a sense of belonging among members of society, generated AED 62.8 million.
Positive Spirit Leads the Most Impactful Initiatives
The study found that the Positive Spirit initiative ranked as the most impactful, benefiting around two million people.
It was followed by the Esaad discount card, which benefited 1,158,717 people, while around 40,000 people took part in the “Ride with Dubai Police” initiative.
The UAE SWAT Challenge events also recorded around 51,000 beneficiaries, highlighting the diversity of the initiatives and their ability to reach different segments of the community.
Link Between More Initiatives and Lower Crime Indicators
The study also identified “inverse correlations” between the implementation of community initiatives and crime-related indicators, reflecting the preventive role these programs play in supporting security and stability.
The findings showed an inverse relationship with the rate of serious crimes, indicating that an increase in community initiatives coincided with a decline in this category of crime.
The study also recorded a strong inverse correlation between customer happiness and crime rates, suggesting that higher levels of satisfaction and happiness among customers are associated with lower crime rates.
These findings further highlight the importance of community initiatives in supporting preventive security while strengthening partnership and mutual trust between the police and the public.
Initiatives Going Beyond Awareness to Create Sustainable Impact
The study confirms that the community and awareness initiatives implemented by Dubai Police now go beyond their traditional role of spreading awareness and strengthening communication with the public. They have become an important contributor to a range of security and social indicators.
These initiatives also support quality of life while reinforcing security and stability through a scientific approach based on measuring outcomes and analyzing data and statistics related to their actual impact on society.
The AED 647.9 million in social and economic impact reflects Dubai Police’s success in developing a sustainable community-focused model that combines stronger security, better quality of life, increased trust, and broader community participation.
