Dubai Police have launched an exciting new competition this October as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, aimed at discovering the best ethical hackers in the UAE. The “Capture the Flag” (CTF) contest offers a total prize pool of Dh223,000 and is open to school students, university students, and professionals, with separate prize categories for each group.
The prizes are divided as follows:
- Dh40,000 for school students
- Dh78,000 for university students
- Dh95,000 for professionals
The competition includes three stages. It starts with online qualifiers from October 5 until the end of the month, followed by an in-person grand finale at the Dubai Police Officers’ Club on October 25 and 26. The goal is to identify talented individuals in penetration testing who could eventually contribute to national security.
This contest is part of a broader cybersecurity awareness campaign by Dubai Police, which includes workshops for students, dialogue sessions, and a cybersecurity forum for businesses. The initiative aims to educate people across all sectors—from schools to corporate offices—on digital safety.
Dubai Police have also introduced a new website called ecrimehub to help the public understand cyber risks better. The platform features easy guides on electronic crimes, support resources for online fraud victims, and an AI-powered assistant that answers cybersecurity questions. One innovative feature allows users to upload images to check for potential fraud, adding an interactive element to user safety.
To keep the community engaged, the site hosts weekly quizzes every Sunday and Monday. Those who answer correctly are entered into a prize draw, with winners announced at the end of October.
The Protection Centre “Hemyah,” which usually runs awareness programs on topics like drug abuse and bullying, is focusing on cybersecurity this month. Targeted sessions will teach students how to stay safe online and recognize suspicious activities.
Dubai Police emphasized that any reports of fraud or suspicious behavior submitted through the ecrimehub platform are promptly investigated, with efforts made to shut down scams and suspicious accounts wherever possible.
With cyber threats evolving daily, this campaign reflects Dubai Police’s commitment to staying ahead of online dangers and empowering the community to protect themselves. Their efforts support the UAE’s vision of creating a safe and resilient digital society where technology is used responsibly to ensure safety and wellbeing for everyone.
The campaign was announced at a press conference attended by top Dubai Police officials, including leaders from the Cybercrime and Artificial Intelligence Crimes Department, the International Centre for Protecting Victims of Online Exploitation, and the Cybercrime Awareness Section, along with media representatives. Major Engineer Khalil Al Hosani highlighted the innovative technology behind the ecrimehub site, especially its AI chatbot that uses advanced image analysis to detect potential online fraud with high accuracy.
Throughout the month, Dubai Police will continue raising awareness among students, tourists, and the broader community, focusing on teaching practical steps to secure personal data and avoid scams. They stressed that education is the most powerful defense against cybercrime and reaffirmed their commitment to keeping the community safe in both the physical and digital worlds.
