Elite police officers from around the world have told of dicing with death and the devastation of losing colleagues in the line of duty after showcasing their skills in a gruelling Dubai competition.
The third UAE Swat Challenge brought together 41 special task forces from 21 countries to take part in five tests in as many days - covering tactical, assault, officer rescues, tower events and obstacle courses - aimed at examining their tactical skills, mental focus and physical endurance under the glare of world-class competition.
While the teams pushed themselves to the limit to come out on top, the event was a chance to celebrate their kinship and share expertise with the common goal of upholding the law in mind.
Abu Dhabi Police's Team A were crowned the overall winners ahead of Dubai Police's A team, with Abu Dhabi's B team making up the top three.
“All of the teams are taking something back from the competition, if not the win, it's the expertise,” said Lt Col Mohammad Al Rashash, deputy director of Patrols of Abu Dhabi Police’s Special Forces F7, on the final day of the competition.
“Our team is excellent. It has been ready mentally and physically and its members have their eyes set on the first place.”
The dangers of combating traffickers
Javiera Francisca Tobar Roa, a sniper from Santiago, Chile, knows only too well the risks she faces each day.
“During a raid on drug traffickers last year, we lost one of our police force members. It's tough when you leave the scene missing one team member,” she said.
Ms Javiera, 28, joined her team three years ago after passing a training course that she considered the hardest in her short career.
She enjoyed the opportunity to meet highly-skilled offers from all over the world.
“It showed me other teams' potential and skills; it introduced me to different cultures, especially the UAE and Arab cultures through Dubai,” she said.
From lawyer to enforcing the law
Brazilian sniper Patricia Amaro, 34, is determined to see justice be done.
She swapped life as a lawyer to follow her childhood dream to fight crime head on - refusing to let anyone stand in her way.
“Many men tried to push me to give up, but I stayed and learned fast,” she said.
“Now I am really good at my job. I am a sniper, K9 officer, skilled marksman in shooting at a target in crowded areas,” she said.
She recalled being attacked several times and nearly killed, yet it is not the memories of those incidents she carries with her.
“At the time of the mission I don’t think about what I see, but I do afterwards,” she said.
“One incident last year left a mark in my life because I had to arrest a child, 13, for selling drugs.”
“It was very difficult for me to see a child that could be mine, to see children born in poverty and landing in a life of crime.”
UAE teams relish opportunity
First Sergeant Ahmad Al Kaabi, 35, from Abu Dhabi Police Special Forces F7, said competing teams are adapting to the challenges of the event each year.
“The environment of the Swat Challenge is provoking them to prepare differently to keep up with other teams,” he said.
He said the event provided an opportunity to learn and improve for all teams.
Sharjah Police enjoyed the chance to pit themselves against the world's best once more.
“In each edition we were spotting what other teams have and we didn't and since then we have been improving our skills and training facilities,” said Lt Col Ahmad Al Owais, supervisor of the Sharjah Team.
“The challenge is real-life training and it's where we test our skills and readiness.”
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The specs
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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
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
The five pillars of Islam
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
