DUBAI (ALETIHAD)
Dubai Police, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, has brought together national and international experts to examine the growing challenges of combating human trafficking in the digital age, highlighting the importance of innovation, strategic partnerships and coordinated action in tackling increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
Organised by the Human Trafficking Crime Monitoring Centre at the General Department of Human Rights at Dubai Police, the specialised seminar marked the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons under the theme “Human Trafficking in the Digital Age: From Online Recruitment to Dismantling Scam Centres and Tracing Criminal Assets.”
The event was attended by Major General Saif bin Abed Al Muhairi, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Excellence and Pioneering Affairs, Dr Muhannad Fayez Al Dweikat, representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the GCC countries, Brigadier Faisal Ahmed Al Khumairi, Acting Director of the General Department of Human Rights, alongside experts, specialists, judicial representatives, law enforcement agencies and strategic partners.
Collective Responsibility
In his opening address, Major General Al Muhairi said organised crime has rapidly expanded into digital spaces, exploiting artificial intelligence, social media platforms and transnational fraud networks to recruit victims, manage exploitation operations and conceal criminal proceeds through complex financial systems.
He stressed that combating these crimes requires proactive action, institutional integration, international cooperation and continuous innovation rather than reactive responses.
He added that Dubai Police continues to strengthen its position as a leading global law enforcement organisation by developing advanced policing systems based on innovation, artificial intelligence, digital analysis, financial investigations, and capacity building, while reinforcing cooperation with partners at the local, regional, and international levels.
Major General Al Muhairi emphasised that success depends on effective partnerships between government institutions, judicial authorities, regulatory bodies, academic institutions, and international organisations, describing the fight against human trafficking as a shared responsibility that requires unified expertise, resources and a common vision centred on protecting people.
He also highlighted the significance of the Ministry of Interior’s newly launched Anti Human Trafficking Policy, which provides a comprehensive national framework for preventing the crime, protecting victims, prosecuting offenders, and strengthening institutional coordination among relevant authorities.
International Cooperation
Dr Muhannad Al Dweikat praised the longstanding partnership between the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police, describing it as a model for strengthening integrated responses to organised crime, particularly human trafficking.
He said the collaboration has supported prevention, victim protection, law enforcement, capacity building, knowledge exchange, and expanded national, regional, and international cooperation.
Dr Al Dweikat noted that the seminar reflects a forward-looking understanding of how human trafficking has evolved in the digital environment, where victims may be recruited through deceptive online advertisements, exploited within organised scam centres and subjected to financial crimes involving electronic payment systems and digital assets.
He also commended the UAE’s advanced legislative, institutional and technological frameworks, highlighting the country’s integration of criminal investigations, financial investigations, and digital analysis, alongside strong cooperation between law enforcement agencies, financial institutions and technology service providers.
Addressing Emerging Threats
A panel discussion explored the latest challenges posed by digital transformation to human trafficking crimes and examined modern approaches to prevention, investigation and victim protection through enhanced cooperation and advanced technologies.
The discussion focused on four key themes: Dubai Police’s efforts to combat cybercrime and human trafficking, the relationship between organised scam centres and trafficking offences, methods for tracing criminal assets using modern technologies, and the importance of cooperation between security, judicial, and financial authorities to tackle transnational organised crime.
The panel featured Dr Sulaiman Salem Al Kaabi, Chief Prosecutor, member of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking and Deputy Head of the Public Prosecution’s Anti Human Trafficking Team, Major Mohammed Majid Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director of the Cybercrime Department at Dubai Police, and Major Dr Hawaa Yousif Al Raisi, Head of the Studies Branch at the General Department of Human Rights and Rapporteur of the Ministry of Interior’s Anti Human Trafficking Committee.
Honouring Partners
The seminar concluded with Dubai Police, represented by Brigadier Faisal Ahmed Al Khumairi, honouring supporting organisations and strategic partners in recognition of their valuable contributions to strengthening the national framework for combating human trafficking and supporting the Ministry of Interior’s Anti Human Trafficking Committee.