Combatting Drug Crime in the United Arab Emirates: A Drone-Based System for Monitoring and Tracking Suspects

The United Arab Emirates is facing a significant challenge with drug addiction, trafficking, and promotion within its borders. According to Dajani, 6.1 people per million have died from drug use [1]. To address this issue, the Ministry of Interior is dedicated to ensuring the safety and stability of its citizens and residents through improvements in monitoring and tracking systems, communication networks, and collaborative efforts in the maritime, land, and air domains with its partners. Despite the increasing number of drug-related crimes, the UAE is focusing on implementing advanced technologies to swiftly apprehend suspects and reduce the drug crime index. Drug trafficking and usage in the UAE has been a persistent problem since the 1980s, with a high rate of drug-related deaths recorded by Dubai Police in 2001. Over 3.5 tons of drugs were recovered, and 1,307 individuals were arrested for drug-related offenses such as possession, misuse, and sale. Heroin and Hashish were the most commonly used substances. To minimize drug-related crimes and protect society, this paper proposes a drone-based system.