Cruising the Desert: Dubai Police's Supercar Patrol - A Tourist Delight
- By Stefan Grundhoff*
Luxury Rides for Travelers: Dubai Police's High-End Vehicles on Display - Experience the cream of the crop for tourists: Dubai Police's Supercars Collection
For over two decades, a special unit of the Dubai Police has been hitting the road with high-speed, high-priced supercars that leave jaws dropping. Instead of chasing down lowlifes or speeding motorists, these officers serve as friendly faces of their country, popular photo-ops among tourists in the United Arab Emirates. These days, electric patrol cars are joining the fleet and both officers and tourists are thrilled - as long as the horsepower is exhilarating.
Supercar Patrol for Popular Destinations
It's a cool evening at "The Frame", the largest canvas in the world since 2018, and a tourist hotspot in Dubai. Ali Yousif, a 39-year-old policeman clad in ceremonial uniform, is cruising the area with a few of his colleagues from police headquarters. Today, they're showering tourists with a peek into their automotive treasure chest.
A veteran in the Dubai Police force for two decades, Ali has made it into the most desirable specialized unit. But unlike the UAE-SWAT, whose members secretly fight crime and smuggling, Ali Yousif's beat isn't so tough. He's a tourist ambassador, and his supercar parade attracts thousands to his side.
The Supercar Patrol's Origins
The Luxury Latest Model (LLM) fleet, as it's affectionately known, originally hit the streets in 2001. "Our mission started back in 2001," recalls Ali Yousif, who could easily star in a Hollywood blockbuster in his vibrant green uniform. "We have 18 cars in our LLM fleet right now. We use these vehicles to ensure safety and order in tourist areas."
The luxury car list is impressive: Ferrari Gran Lusso, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Panamera, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Continental, BMW 8 Series Coupe, or Mercedes AMG GT. Today, Ali pilots an electric Lotus Emeya,while his colleagues patrol popular spots in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan Mansory, Bentley Continental GT, Audi R8, and the recently acquired Tesla Cybertruck.
Manufacturers Line Up for Patrol Duty
Auto manufacturers worldwide are eager to provide the LLM fleet with sleek, fast roadsters that the Dubai Police love to flaunt at events and popular destinations. "We are the tourism police and the face of our country," explains Ali, "We don't participate in high-speed pursuits, that's what the SWAT team handles."
Disputes among colleagues over who gets which supercar are virtually non-existent, as the vehicles are distributed fairly through a duty roster system, just like their traditional police vehicles such as BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, or Nissan Patrol.
Lamborghini and the LLM Fleet
Lamborghini has been a consistent partner to the Dubai Police's LLM fleet for many years. The Italian luxury car manufacturer recently provided a 666-hp Urus Performante, which can reach speeds of up to 306 km/h. Abu Dhabi Police Commander-in-Chief, General Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani, stated, "The powerful super SUV will help increase the number of patrol officers, maintaining social security and serving residents better in popular tourist destinations."
These patrol cars, painted in white and green, are equipped with blue LED lights and extras like weapon safes, first aid kits, and defibrillators for emergencies. When the need arises, there's no time to lose - these high-powered machines are ready for a quick dash to Dubai's numerous hospitals.
For quick response and the powerful engines, officers undergo regular training on various vehicles as the LLM division is just one of many roles within the local force. Officers often switch between departments and units. Ali Yousif is joyful to serve in the LLM division alongside his colleagues.
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- Dubai
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- GT
- United Arab Emirates
- Car Racing
- Rolls-Royce
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- SWAT
- The Dubai Police's Supercar Patrol serves as a friendly face of the country, attracting tourists with their high-performance vehicles.
- The Luxury Latest Model (LLM) fleet, consisting of supercars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, BMW, and Mercedes, ensures safety and order in tourist areas.
- Ali Yousif, a member of the LLM fleet for two decades, serves as a tourist ambassador, showcasing a peek into the automotive treasure chest of the Dubai Police.
- The LLM fleet originally hit the streets in 2001, with 18 cars currently in the fleet, including electric models like the Lotus Emeya and Tesla Cybertruck.
- Auto manufacturers worldwide are eager to provide the LLM fleet with luxury, high-speed vehicles to flaunt at events and popular destinations.
- Officers in the LLM division undergo regular vocational training on various vehicles, ensuring they are well-equipped to respond quickly in emergencies.
- The LLM division is just one of many roles within the local force, with officers often switching between departments and units.
- Lamborghini has been a consistent partner to the Dubai Police's LLM fleet for many years, providing powerful supercars like the Urus Performante.
- The LLM patrol cars, painted in white and green, are equipped with blue LED lights, weapon safes, first aid kits, and defibrillators for emergencies.
- The Dubai Police's Supercar Patrol is popular not only among tourists but also within the industry, with finance, transportation, automotive, lifestyle, and entertainment news outlets covering their activities.
- The Supercar Patrol's presence extends to the social-media sphere, with locals and tourists posting pictures and videos of their interactions with the officers.
- Adventure- and budget-travel enthusiasts often include encounters with the Supercar Patrol in their itineraries, adding an element of pop-culture appeal to their trips.
- While the Supercar Patrol is a joyful experience for most, it is not exempt from incidents like car accidents or crime and justice issues, which are sometimes reported in the general news.
