More than 100 cadets are ready to serve the community after they graduated from Dubai Police Academy on Tuesday.

Some 112 officer cadets were presented with certificates and outstanding graduates were honoured by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, who praised the academy and the students.

The ceremony featured a military parade and exercises to show off officers’ hand-to-hand combat skills.

One of the exercises showed the police’s abilities when responding to a shooting incident.

Several police patrols, helicopters, and motorbikes were dispatched to deal with the simulated emergency.

Graduating officers hailed from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Palestine and Jordan.

Among them was Abdul Rahman Al Thanhani, 22, who earned a bachelor’s degree in police science and law.

Lt Al Thani told The National that he dreamt about joining the force since he was a child.

“Since I was a kid, I wanted to become a police officer and containing all the factors that might affect our community negatively,” said Lt Al Thani, who joined the academy in September 2013.

“I used to attend court sessions to understand the law and understand court procedures even before I joined the academy.

“Police officers do much to ensure the safety of our community and I want to be part of it,” he said.

Lt Al Thanhani trained at the academy for four years and was taught discipline, how to use weapons, the military walk and other skills.

Two years ago, women were allowed to join the academy though they have served with Dubai Police long before then.

Nineteen-year-old Mariam Al Hashmi was one of the first women to enrol in the academy.

“I want to become a military woman and to follow on the footsteps of my father. I take several military courses and self-defence is one of them,” she said.

“Nothing is difficult for women these day. One of the advantages of joining the police academy is that families are accepting the idea that their daughter joining the military,” said Ms Al Hashmi, who plans to combat drug-related crimes.

Roughly 2,500 officer cadets have graduated from the Dubai Police Academy since it opened in 1987, said Brig Mohammed Al Shamsi, deputy director.

“Women joining the academy will graduate in 2020,” he said.

“Women were recruited in Dubai Police force many years ago. However, those who joined will earn a certificate and achieve excellence in the police work.”