A new Social Return on Investment (SROI) study has valued the impact of 80 Dubai Police community initiatives at AED 647.9 million, highlighting their contribution to public safety, economic and social outcomes and quality of life.
Conducted by the Future Foresight Centre at Dubai Police, the study assessed initiatives implemented between 2017 and 2026 across education, health, sport and public awareness. Together, the programmes reached around 3.8 million beneficiaries.
Economic and community contributions accounted for the largest share of the measured impact at AED 542.7 million. Quality of life initiatives generated AED 31.7 million, while programmes supporting public trust accounted for AED 62.8 million. Other initiatives focused on accessibility, participation, safety and social engagement also contributed to the overall value.
The study found positive links between increased community engagement and several social indicators. Dubai Police initiatives recorded a 0.44 correlation with the Happiness Index and perceptions of safety, as well as a 0.45 correlation with the Happiness, Security and Awareness Index.
Researchers also identified links between greater implementation of community initiatives and lower levels of certain crimes. A negative 0.41 correlation was recorded with concerning crime rates, while customer happiness and crime rates showed a stronger negative correlation of 0.796.
Among individual programmes, the Positive Spirit initiative had the widest reach, benefiting two million people, followed by the Esaad privilege card initiative with more than 1.15 million beneficiaries.
Volunteers also played an important role. A total of 7,189 volunteers contributed 249,916 hours between 2017 and 2026, generating estimated financial savings of AED 21.7 million.
The findings demonstrate how community policing can strengthen trust, improve perceptions of safety and support crime prevention while contributing to Dubai’s wider social and economic priorities.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
