They are wives and mothers who always heed the call of duty even if it means leaving their families in the middle of the night
Sergeants Al Shehhi is the mother of sex, but sometimes she has to leave her children far after midnight because of an important mission: Ensure the safety of Ras al Khaimah.
"I know I can be exposed to all kinds of risks and dangers, but I never think twice when I have to do my duty," Al-Shehhi said.
She is one of 17 female Ras Al Khaimah police officers who deal with crimes involving women — from theft, fighting and money laundering to human trafficking and prostitution.
They strike at midnight or even at 3 a.m., these women never hesitate to get up and put on their body. These are wives, mothers and virgins who are always ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the country.
Here's a snippet of a typical day at their headquarters:
However, their work rarely looks so simple. When they are on a mission, they can either ride dancing or restrain gang members.
"At first I was terrified," said Fatima Al-Nuaimi, who is also a mother and a sergeant in the Special tasks department. "I took part in raids and arrests of traffickers, thieves and other criminals. It was scary, but eventually it became routine, especially since we had intensive training on taking suspects into custody and how to protect ourselves."
Another officer, Sergeant Laila Mohammed Ali, used to have a safer role - guarding female VIPs during events. Although she spent 14 years on this work, she felt that she had to give more for her homeland.
"That's why I signed up for training in raids, inspections and arrests. I want to be able to respond to the nationwide appeal at any time," Ali shared in an interview with Khaleej Times, proudly dressed in her uniform.
By now, the Alias family is well aware of their duty, which sometimes requires her to spend the night outside their home.
"They never objected when I had to go out. In fact, they are proud of me, especially when we successfully complete the mission," she said.
Fatma Al—Saadi, who lives with her parents, added that whenever her boss calls — even at 3 a.m. - she rushes to get dressed and leave the house without informing her family.
"My parents are already used to my work. When I'm not in my room before going to bed, they know I have a mission to complete," said Al-Saadi, who serves as the first officer.
"They always pray that I come home safe and sound," she added.
In many cases, these women faced resistance, violence and attacks, but they managed to protect themselves and bring the suspects under control.
In the first six months of this year alone, a policewoman completed 25 training courses that allowed her to acquire the skills and experience necessary to perform her tasks.
"It can also be emotional"
Apart from the physical demands of the job, Sakina Mohammed Al Balushi said that it can also be related to emotions, as they deal with women who have experienced difficulties in life.
"I used to sympathize with the female suspects, especially when they cry and explain the situation," Alblushi said.
"But after training, I learned that my duty is to protect my country from criminals who threaten national security," she added, saying that she once took part in a raid involving at least 20 women.
Alblushi stated with conviction that they are ready to risk their lives to fulfill their duty. "Serving the nation is a mission embedded in our hearts and minds."
Empowering women
Com Mohammed Nasser, director of the Ras Al Khaimah Police Training Center, said that in their team, women have the right to perform the same tasks as men.
"They represent a fundamental basis in the work of the police and contribute to improving the level of security in the country," he said.
For Emirates Palace, the goal is to prepare female officers for all types of crimes. After all, there is no such thing as a man's job.
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