Three female Dubai Police officers are ready to lay down the law to referee elite crime-fighting squads from around the world in this year's UAE Swat Challenge
The officers are part of a team of 33 officials, 28 from Dubai Police joined by five experts from the US, who will help to oversee five days of action, which got under way on Saturday.
The sixth annual Swat Challenge will bring together 120 special forces squads from 50 countries competing for a total of Dh1 million in prizes at Dubai Police training centre in Al Ruwayyah.
The three Dubai Police officers know the gruelling event well, having taking part in it themselves.
Embracing new role
Lt Fatma Al Mamari, 41, has served for 20 years. Having started her career in the VIP Protection Department, she competed in the challenge but took a break last year to focus on other competitions, including the Ministry of Interior Tactical Shooting Championship.
This year, she returns to the event in a different capacity. “I was unable to dedicate the necessary time to training for this year’s competition due to my involvement in Dubai Games,” she said.
“However, I am fully prepared to serve as a referee, especially after completing a tactical pistol and rifle course from the Ministry of Interior.”
Lt Al Mamari understands the rigorous demands of the competition and is determined to ensure fair play.
“There will be no favouritism towards the Dubai Police women’s team, even though I was once part of it,” she said. “The strongest will prevail.”
“Every year, the teams get stronger. The women’s team, in particular, has improved significantly due to their intensive training.
UAE Swat Challenge 2025 - in pictures
“Sometimes, their training includes competing alongside and against male teams. This environment pushes female officers to challenge themselves and elevate their performance.”
“The competition keeps getting stronger,” she said. “And so do we.”
Rising to the challenge
Fellow referee Fatima Al Bandari, 37, has served with Dubai Police for 13 years. She began her career in the VIP Protection team as part of the motorcycle unit before moving into competitive shooting.
Her talent has taken her to competitions in Thailand, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, where her team won third place.
Domestically, her team dominated the Ministry of Interior Tactical Teams Championship for five years in a row.
She was unable to compete in this year’s Swat Challenge because of other commitments.
“I had a competition in Singapore and was on an official mission in Ethiopia for a month and a half,” she said.
“This prevented me from training adequately for the Swat Challenge or even participating in the local championship in December.”
Despite stepping away from competition, she remains committed to the event.
“There is no leniency in refereeing, even for my former team,” she said. “I hope my team wins, but I will not overlook any mistakes. The competition is fair and honourable.”
She spoke of her pride at the UAE's efforts to empower women, allowing them the opportunity to thrive in a variety of fields.
“The UAE has empowered women in all fields, even in space exploration,” she said. “Being in this field is an honour.”
Pursuing passions
Afraa Al Nuaimi, 28, the former head of Dubai Police’s women’s team, joined the force in 2016 and currently works in the specialised training division at the Dubai Police Academy.
She chose to step away from competition this year to complete her master’s degree. “My passion for the challenge led me to join the refereeing panel,” she said.
“I am familiar with all aspects of the challenge, from procedures to regulations and penalties.”
“Serving as a referee allows me to remain involved in an event that I love, even though I couldn’t compete this year.”
She sees the increasing participation of female teams as a testament to the competition’s success.
“The growing presence of female teams highlights the event’s impact, not just as a competition but as a platform for experience-sharing and skill-building,” she said.
She also spoke of the continued progress of the Dubai Police women’s team.
“Their progress is due to strong institutional support. Dubai Police has provided us with an optimal training environment and expert coaches in shooting, obstacle courses, and physical fitness.”
The UAE Swat Challenge, launched in 2019, is organised by Dubai Police and held under the patronage of Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
The event tests skills such as hostage rescue, tower assault, and endurance courses.
The 120 elite tactical teams on show, include five women’s teams, and eight debutant squads.
Six student teams, including three from the Dubai Police Academy, will take part, mark the first time academy students have joined the competition.
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time
Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.
Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.
The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.
The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.
Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.
The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.
• Bloomberg
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
South Africa squad
Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Stoke City v Tottenham
Brentford v Newcastle United
Arsenal v Manchester City
Everton v Manchester United
All ties are to be played the week commencing December 21.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m. Winner: Rio Angie, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Trenchard, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Mulfit, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m. Winner: Waady, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m. Winner: Tried And True, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m. Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
The Orwell Prize for Political Writing
Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include:
- Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
- Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
- Follow Me, Akhi: The Online World of British Muslims by Hussein Kesvani
- Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni
