Ras Al Khaimah Police adopts real-time monitoring with artificial intelligence to manage crises

Director of the Operations Department at the Ras Al Khaimah Police General Command, Brigadier General Dr. Abdullah bin Salman, stated that artificial intelligence contributes to the development of crisis management methods, by reducing the time gap between the occurrence of an event and the response to it, and moving from the logic of delayed reaction to an approach based on proactive control.

He explained that smart systems are able to monitor what is happening in real time through video analysis, sensors, and open data, which provides a continuous and updated picture of the development of the event, and helps overcome the limitations of human vision, especially in large areas or rapidly changing situations.

He pointed out that surveillance is not limited to monitoring, but is based on a dynamic analysis of what is happening, as artificial intelligence captures subtle changes in movement, behavior, and density and links them to previous contexts and reference standards, which transforms the monitoring process from mere observation to a deeper understanding of the nature of the situation, and helps sense the course of the crisis in early stages.

He added that these data lead to the stage of intelligent classification of events, where the nature of the event, its scope, and the limits of its potential impact are determined, indicating that crises are not homogeneous, and their external appearance may be similar despite their differences in depth and results, which makes accurate classification an important factor in distinguishing between a limited incident and a crisis that is likely to escalate.

He stressed that the classification contributes to achieving balance in dealing with crises, as it allows the level of risk to be assessed in a balanced manner, so that the response to limited events is not exaggerated and the escalating risks are not underestimated, pointing out that excessive intervention may lead to complicating the situation, while laxity in the face of a growing danger may lead to loss of control.

Bin Salman explained that artificial intelligence provides direct support for operational decisions by analyzing potential scenarios and presenting different options for dealing with the event, such as partial closure, phased evacuation, or limited intervention, while clarifying the expected effects of each option, which gave field commanders a wider space to make decisions under time pressure.

He pointed out that the importance of these systems doubles in environments that require immediate coordination between multiple parties, as smart platforms help unify the vision and reduce confusion, by providing a common reference based on unified data and simultaneous analysis of events, which enhances harmony in implementation and reduces conflicting decisions.

He stressed that applied experiments in a number of countries showed the effectiveness of linking command and control centers with smart analysis platforms capable of automatically reading camera scenes and monitoring unusual behaviors such as leaving suspicious objects in public places, unfamiliar gatherings, or rapid movement at sensitive points, without the need for direct human intervention.

He explained that the importance of these applications lies not only in the speed of discovery, but also in reducing reliance on individual judgment, which may be affected by fatigue or psychological pressure, as automated analysis provides a more consistent reading of the data and gives leadership a more stable information basis for decision-making.

He stressed that crisis management through artificial intelligence does not mean eliminating the human role, but rather repositioning it, as humans remain responsible for the final assessment and for balancing security necessities and humanitarian and legal considerations.

He added that the real challenge lies in achieving this balance, so that artificial intelligence remains a tool to enhance control and decision-making, and not a substitute for human experience and institutional wisdom.

He explained that the development of these technologies contributes to enhancing the ability of institutions to protect lives and property and maintain stability, especially in light of accelerating events and increasing challenges, which makes crisis management more dependent on intelligent analysis and proactive reading of risks.