2 days ago
Dubai Police Promotes First-Ever Female Brigadier
In a history-making move, Dubai Police have promoted Colonel Samira Abdullah Al Ali to Brigadier, making her the first woman ever to earn this prestigious rank since the force was founded in 1956.
It's a major moment for the UAE — and a massive win for women in uniform.
Brigadier Al Ali currently heads the Insurance Department at Dubai Police, a field she helped shape from the ground up. She joined the force in 1994, after graduating with a degree in insurance from UAE University and briefly working in the private sector.
'It was a newspaper ad that led me to join the academy,' she recalled.
'During my training, retired Major General Jasim Belramitha learned of my academic and professional background in insurance and invited me to work in that field within Dubai Police, which was still in its infancy at the time.'
From humble beginnings in a tiny office with just two colleagues, she built a full-fledged department by 2000. Today, that department oversees every aspect of insurance related to the police force's assets — from vehicles to living property — and remains the only one of its kind across UAE police agencies.
Samira also broke barriers in the General Department of Transport and Rescue, leading a team where no woman had worked before.
With over 31 years of service, she's racked up an impressive resume:
🔹 392 medals, badges, and certificates of appreciation
🔹 225 development proposals submitted
🔹 A Master's in Business Administration and a Diploma in IT
🔹 Numerous awards for innovation, including the 'SAND' and 'Safe Driving Stars' initiatives
'This promotion is a source of pride for every woman in Dubai Police,' she said.
'It's a testament to the organisation's dedication to granting women equal opportunities to lead and serve their country.'
Al Ali also thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his consistent support of women's empowerment in the UAE.
Off-duty? She's also a mom — her son works in chemical engineering — and credits discipline and commitment for helping her balance it all.
'With faith and effort, everything is possible,' she says — and her story proves it.
