How Dubai Police's elite unit gathers underwater evidence

TEAM'S WORK COMBINES DIVING, FORENSIC SCIENCE AND DETECTIVE SKILLS

- BY AGHADDIR ALI

Imagine a weapon used in a crime is tossed into a canal, a car is sunk offshore, or a body is discovered in the dark depths — Dubai Police's criminal investigation doesn't end where the water begins. It often starts there.

In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Maj Gen Ahmad Thani Ali Bin Ghalita, Director of the General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology at Dubai Police, offered a rare glimpse into the operations of the force's underwater crime scene investigation team, a first-of-its-kind in the region.

"The team includes experts in crime scene investigation, forensic evidence, explosives disposal, marine raids, and maritime rescue," Maj Gen Bin Ghalita explained. "This structure ensures full integration across Dubai Police units and guarantees an effective, coordinated response."

The team's work combines forensic science, diving and detective skills to find, collect, and preserve critical clues that could make or break a case.