Samira Abdullah Al Ali is Dubai Police's first female Brigadier

Samira Abdullah Al Ali has become the first female Brigadier of Dubai Police in its 69-year history after moving up the ranks for her exemplary service over 31 years.

She was promoted from the ranks of Colonel to Brigadier under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, under a broad round of promotions for officers in the force.

Al Ali currently heads the Insurance Department at Dubai Police and has played a pivotal role in developing world-class insurance practices that support the organisation’s assets and operations.

She expressed her gratitude for the new opportunity and thanked the country's wise leadership for the honour and continuous support for women’s empowerment.

"This promotion is a source of pride for every woman in Dubai Police and a testament to the organisation’s dedication to granting women equal opportunities to lead and serve their country," Al Ali added.

“This rank carries great responsibility,” she said, adding, “I will do everything in my power to live up to the confidence placed in me and continue contributing meaningfully to our beloved nation and the institution I’m proud to be part of.”

Al Ali joined Dubai Police in October 1994, following her graduation from the UAE University in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in insurance.

She initially worked in a private insurance and reinsurance company before enrolling in a women’s preparatory course at the Dubai Police Academy.

“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.”

She began working in a modest insurance office with only two other staff members. Thanks to her expertise, she quickly transformed the office into a specialised department. By 2000, it had evolved into a fully operational sub-department consisting of three major sections, covering all insurance matters related to Dubai Police’s assets, including living property.

Al Ali was also the first woman to work at the General Department of Transport and Rescue, where she led a department that had previously employed only men—a challenge she embraced with resilience and determination.

Under her leadership, Dubai Police’s Insurance Department has achieved major advancements, adopting international best practices and implementing continuous benchmarking initiatives. “No other police agency in the UAE has a dedicated Insurance Department like ours,” she noted. “We handle all types of insurance operations, constantly updating and monitoring policies to meet evolving needs.”

Through advanced data analysis and policy optimisation, the department succeeded in securing long-term financial savings, culminating in Dubai Police’s first five-year insurance contract for asset coverage.

She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Diploma in Information Technology.

A devoted mother to a son who works in chemical engineering, Al Ali credits her family, supervisors and colleagues for their unwavering support throughout her career.

“Discipline and commitment, which I learned at Dubai Police, helped me balance my professional and personal life. I always remind my 22-member team, including three women, to Believe in yourselves and trust in God. With faith and effort, everything is possible.”