General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, has affirmed that combating drugs represents a shared national and societal responsibility requiring the concerted efforts of all authorities and individuals. He stressed that Sharjah Police General Command continues to develop its prevention and awareness programmes in line with best international practices, bolstering the protection of society — particularly young people — and reinforcing security and stability.
The remarks came during the launch of the Sharjah Police Forum for World Anti-Drug Day 2026, held under the theme "Protection for the Individual… Safeguarding Society", with the participation of a distinguished group of experts, specialists, and partner entities.
The forum reviewed the latest prevention and awareness strategies for combating drugs, alongside the most prominent indicators and achievements of Sharjah Police in this field, which included the implementation of hundreds of awareness programmes reaching millions of beneficiaries.
Sharjah Police affirmed that organising the forum embodies its ongoing commitment to spreading awareness of the dangers of drugs, entrenching a culture of social responsibility, and unifying national efforts to protect members of society — in support of the path of security and stability and the preservation of community safety.
During the forum, Sharjah Police General Command presented its integrated drug prevention strategy, which is based on a proactive approach and broad institutional partnerships, aimed at enhancing community awareness and reducing the risks of drug use and trafficking.
Brigadier Ahmed Mohammed bin Rabia, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Prevention and Drug Control, delivered a presentation on the pillars of the prevention strategy, explaining its links to the UAE Vision 2031, the National Strategy for Combating Drugs, and the Sharjah Police General Command strategy — reflecting national integration in unifying efforts and strengthening the prevention system in accordance with best practices.
He confirmed that the strategy rests on 5 key pillars: community awareness, proactive monitoring, partner empowerment, early intervention, and demand reduction — implemented through programmes and initiatives targeting various segments of society in cooperation with government, educational, health, and media institutions.
He explained that the network of partners includes the National Council for Combating Drugs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, universities and academic institutions, media outlets and social media platforms, as well as civil society organisations and the private sector — enhancing complementarity of roles in confronting the drug menace.
He noted that the prevention programmes target school and university students, parents, public and private sector employees, higher-risk groups, the general public through digital and media platforms, and volunteers and social media influencers — with the aim of broadening the reach of awareness messages and amplifying their societal impact.
Brigadier Ahmed bin Rabia revealed the results of the prevention efforts carried out by Sharjah Police between 2023 and 2025, which yielded 357 awareness programmes benefiting 5,644,613 people, alongside the publication of 3,160 electronic posts, the implementation of 337 community initiatives, and the receipt of 328 reports through security reporting channels — indicators that reflect the broad scope of awareness campaigns and the effectiveness of community partnerships in supporting prevention efforts.