Dubai Police strengthens its security system with “criminal genetic genealogy” techniques

In a step that strengthens Dubai’s leadership and places it at the forefront of innovative global cities in anticipating the future of forensic sciences, the Genome Center in the General Department of Forensic Evidence and Criminology at Dubai Police announced the application of forensic genetic genealogy technology.
This latest technology in the world relies on comparing anonymous samples from crime scenes with global genetic databases such as (GEDMatch), which includes millions of files for individuals who have voluntarily agreed to share their genetic data to support justice and security efforts. The examination mechanism is based on identifying distant relatives between the unknown sample and individuals in the database, which allows family ties to be traced and a genealogical tree to be built that ultimately leads to accurately determining the person’s identity. This ensures that difficult cases are deciphered by integrating genomics with traditional forensic sciences.
For his part, Director of the General Department of Forensic Evidence and Criminology, Major General Ahmed Thani bin Ghalita, confirmed that this achievement reflects the vision of Dubai Police in anticipating security challenges, saying: “The introduction of genetic genealogy techniques reflects our leadership in harnessing science to serve justice. We are not satisfied with following international standards, but rather we formulate them in a way that ensures that Dubai remains the safest and most stable city.”
For his part, Director of the Genome Center, Lt. Colonel and expert Dr. Muhammad Ali Al Marri, explained the qualitative value of this technology by saying: “This technology goes beyond the limits of traditional tests; it does not only search for a direct match, but also analyzes distant genetic links to build accurate family trees that lead us to the person’s identity.”
He added, “The center’s bioinformatics experts, using artificial intelligence techniques, design innovative analytical paths, thus enhancing the center’s role as a deterrent and advanced scientific force that contributes to consolidating the leadership of the Dubai Police General Command in the fields of modern forensic sciences.”