Dubai Police is launching a new ethical hacking competition aimed at identifying top cybersecurity talent. The “Capture the Flag” (CTF) contest, announced by the force’s Cybercrime Department, will run throughout Cybersecurity Awareness Month and offers total prizes worth AED 223,000.
The competition is divided into three categories: school students (AED 40,000), university students (AED 78,000), and professionals (AED 95,000). Online qualifiers will run from October 5 until the end of the month, followed by the in-person finals at the Dubai Police Officers’ Club on October 25–26.
Dubai Police will host dialogue sessions, workshops, and a cybersecurity forum for businesses, delivering tailored guidance for students, professionals, and the wider community.
Alongside the campaign, Dubai Police have launched eCrimeHub, a digital platform designed to help residents recognize and report cyber threats.
Dubai Police officials emphasized that reports of online scams, fraudulent numbers, or suspicious emails submitted via eCrimeHub are acted upon immediately, with efforts to block and investigate threats.
Major Engineer Khalil Al Hosani, Acting Deputy Director of the Cybercrime and AI Crimes Department, told Gulf News that the platform blends technology with public safety.
Senior officers, including Lt Col Dr. Saeed bin Abid, Director of the Information Security Centre, and Major Dr. Rashid Al Baloushi, Deputy Director of the International Centre for Protecting Victims of Online Exploitation, highlighted the importance of building a resilient digital society in line with the UAE’s vision for safe, responsible, and sustainable use of technology.