Recently, Ajman police from UAE were trained in metaverse technology to help residents with their day-to-day queries. The police will have their own avatars that they can control and walk around the streets to make themselves visible to UAE residents. This is the first time law enforcers were trained for metaverse technology, indicating that UAE is more than ready to create its virtual world.
UAE has been making bold moves to enter the metaverse and create its own virtual world. It even has its own ministry called Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and announced the establishment of MetaHQ on The Sandbox.
Just recently, Dubai’s biggest real estate company, DAMAC Group, announced plans to build a virtual city featuring partnerships with famous brands for digital wearables.
With so many Web3-based projects incoming, UAE seems to be aiming to become a virtual hub of the latest technology. So far, it has held many conferences like Dubai MetaCon 2022 to welcome various Web3 projects in the country.
The authority is making efforts to create a safe yet welcoming space for blockchain companies to establish their businesses in the country.
Now UAE is training its law enforcers to keep up with the latest technology by introducing them to the metaverse.
Ajman police explore the metaverse
Seven officers from Al Nuaimaiah police station in Ajman, UAE were trained in metaverse technology. They were given 3D headsets and equipment to properly control their avatars and explore the metaverse.
In the video posted, officers walk around the virtual streets and interact with other avatars. These avatars are residents who can reach out to them for general queries.
According to the head of Ajman Police’s media relations team Maj Noura Sultan Al Shamsi, “This was a trial but having proved successful, officers will continue to meet residents virtually.”
Prior to entering the metaverse, Maj Al Shamsi told The National News that the police had to do physical meetings with residents. With the metaverse, the police decided to hold virtual meetings to make things easier and save precious time for residents.
It is a new service, and soon will be available in all Ajman Police stations in the coming months. Currently, the police are taking feedback from the residents for this service and will integrate them once it is officially launched on the platform.
The head of services development at Al Nuaimaiah police station, Lt Col Mohammed Abu Shehab says, “Their [public] feedback was taken into account while developing the service.”
In other words, both the public and the police work together to make this test session a success.
Maj Al Shamsi also hinted at introducing new services by saying, “Other services would be facilitated through the metaverse world but for now it’s limited to meeting officers for general inquiries.” She didn’t share any details on what specific services they were to introduce.
Final words
Ajman police is the first organization that is taking law enforcement and the role of police in virtual worlds seriously. Just like every metaverse needs to have brand shops, police stations should also be part of the virtual world.
The step taken by Ajman police and its administration shows that the officers are now familiar with the latest technology, which can help them enhance their services that align with the virtual and physical world.
