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Dubai Police offer up to Dh30,000 to residents for best video at UAE SWAT Challenge
The challenge features a total prize pool of $260,000 or nearly Dh1 million, with the team securing first place set to take home $80,000 on the final day
- PUBLISHED: Wed 28 Jan 2026, 2:21 PM
- By:
- Waad Barakat
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Dubai Police announced cash prizes of up to Dh30,000 for the best video made by residents during the UAE SWAT Challenge. The global tactical competition is back for its seventh edition from February 7 to 11 at Al Ruwayyah.
This came as Dubai Police announced details of the upcoming UAE SWAT Challenge on January 28. The event, taking place from February 7, will be the largest gathering of SWAT teams from around the world, competing in five challenges showcasing their tactics and teamwork.
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The new SWAT Clip Award is open to UAE residents and encourages creative coverage of the event, especially from students. The best video will win $10,000 (about Dh36,700), and more prizes for second and third place will be announced soon.
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“This initiative aims to strengthen our connection with residents, especially students, by encouraging them to engage with the event through creative content,” officials said. Dubai Police will announce submission guidelines, eligibility criteria, and entry requirements closer to the start of the competition.
Brigadier General Obaid bin Yarouf of Dubai Police explained that strong attendance in past events led to this decision. He said, “We saw a high turnout of residents in earlier challenges, which encouraged us to open participation this time in a creative and artistic way.”
The UAE SWAT Challenge 2026 will offer a total prize pool of $260,000, or nearly Dh1 million. The first-place team will receive the top prize of $80,000 on the final day.
Officials said that international teams have already started arriving in Dubai, with some coming more than a month early to get ready. So far, 114 teams from 48 countries have signed up on the official website.
Last year, the sixth edition of the event set a Guinness World Record as the largest specialized SWAT championship, with teams from 46 countries.
This year’s competition will have five challenges. For the first time, a cycling challenge will be held one day before the event starts, and joining it is optional. The UAE SWAT Challenge is organized by Dubai Police General Command and is known as one of the world’s largest tactical team competitions.
Waad Barakat is a Special Correspondent covering security topics, from law enforcement to local courts. With a keen eye for human interest stories, she hopes to blend it all with unique Gen Z-inspired content.
