Peloton on Patrol

Cyclist heads to Dubai to meet the city’s first police cycling unit, and discovers they have big plans for the future.

- Andy Sherwood

Dubai Police might be famous for their fleet of plush sports cars, but they have another department making headlines – and it’s one that again uses wheels, although they don’t move as fast as those Ferraris and Lambos.

The Dubai Police Bicycle Unit is the emirate’s two-wheeled team that goes where police cars and ambulances can’t. Currently made up of ten of the city’s officers (who patrol the streets on Giant mountain bikes), it’s a first response unit that can be regularly spotted in places such as the Deira Gold Souq, Jumeirah Beach Residences, City Walk and around the Burj Khalifa. They’re also often called in to assist at some of the city’s biggest celebrations, such as New Year’s Eve parties, exhibitions and events like the Dubai Tour.

The unit was the brainchild of Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri at the General Department Of Protective Security And Emergency, and when the team launched just under two years ago, it started with just five riders. He’s hoping there will be 25 members by March this year.

‘Cycling nowadays is a popular sport in the UAE,’ says Brigadier Al Marri. ‘We wanted a new idea, a way to make the job easier and support us. Ten years ago we created a motorcycle team – it was one of the best ideas Dubai Police came up with and it has female and male riders. There’s a lot of people who like to ride motorcycles, so we said, “Why can’t we combine their passion with their job?” That’s what we did with the cycling team. Our main responsibility is the city’s major events – international, local, sport, conferences, exhibitions. We do about 300 events a year so that’s why we created the team.’