Dubai – Saeed Al-Washahi – Photo by Othman Dhiab
The Lost and Found Department of Dubai Police has revealed, during a field tour alongside a local publication, that it has managed approximately 2.8 million lost items over the past five years. These items include valuable watches, expensive jewelry, advanced electronic devices, passports, identity cards, and bank cards.
The department stated that some lost items have been returned to their owners in record time, sometimes within just five minutes. Surprisingly, some individuals received phone calls from the police to inform them about their lost belongings before they even realized they were missing.
During the tour, Lieutenant Reem Al-Hosani, head of the Communication and Complaint Follow-Up Section, noted that since 2020, Dubai Police has implemented an intelligent system that has dramatically changed the working process. This innovation has reduced procedural steps from seven to just one, significantly speeding up the resolution of cases. The system facilitates the electronic registration of lost and found items and enables quick handling of reports, allowing the recovery of lost items from individuals in transit before they leave the country and reacquainting others after they have departed from Dubai Airport. The department also coordinates the return of belongings to their home countries through postal services.
Professionalism in Operations
During the tour, Al-Hosani showcased several cases that exemplify the professionalism and accuracy of the work. One notable case involved a laptop belonging to an Australian woman, which she lost in the Dubai Airport transit area. The device contained sensitive work-related data, causing her significant distress. However, her joy was immeasurable when she received a call from Dubai Police informing her of the recovery of her device and its return to her in Australia.
She added that the department utilized police capabilities to return a watch valued at over one million dirhams to its owner, who had not reported it missing. The owner initially thought she lost it during a private event and was concerned about the implications for the attendees. Yet, thanks to Dubai Police’s resources, they identified her and were able to inform her that the watch had been lost in a public area, ultimately presenting it to her amidst a backdrop of astonishment and gratitude.
Another story involved a Kazakhstani woman who lost a jewelry bracelet worth 420,000 dirhams. She could not recall where she lost it after visiting multiple countries. She expressed her amazement when Dubai Police contacted her to report its recovery, prompting her to visit the department personally to thank the team.
Public Auctions
Al-Hosani mentioned that the department receives thousands of lost items daily, sometimes registering up to 12,000 items in a single day. These items are sorted and classified based on their type, significance, and value. The vast majority of lost items are returned to their owners within minutes or hours, while the remainder is stored until ownership can be established. If no owner is identified within a year, the items are either sold at public auctions or destroyed according to law, while retaining their financial value for up to 15 years, allowing owners to claim them if they provide proof of ownership.
During the tour, a variety of lost items brought in by hotel representatives were observed. These items had been recorded in the electronic system earlier and were subsequently matched, sorted, and classified precisely, all in preparation to find their rightful owners or to store them. The team examined several luxury watches, mobile phones, and personal bags, all managed under stringent protocols to ensure their preservation.
Tracking Lost Items
The head of the Communication and Complaint Follow-Up Section confirmed that the department receives daily calls and inquiries from both within and outside the country, facilitating the return of lost items to their owners via mail. Recently, possessions were returned to individuals in America, Australia, and Britain, showcasing the international trust in Dubai Police and their ability to provide exceptional services.
The department offers multiple options for owners of lost items, including the ability to visit police stations in person or request a delivery service, along with an online tracking feature for lost items.
Additionally, Dubai Police has allocated large storage facilities to receive and preserve lost items handed over through various police centers in the emirate or the Lost and Found Department. There is also a dedicated section for inspecting and evaluating rare jewelry, precious stones, and watches, using advanced equipment in collaboration with specialized companies, producing detailed descriptive reports for each piece before they are offered for sale if the legal timeframe expires.
The department operates within an extensive network of cooperation with over 2,500 governmental and private entities throughout Dubai, including airports, hotels, shopping centers, and service institutions, all linked to the intelligent system for recording lost and found items. This structure facilitates rapid responses to any reports and has significantly increased transaction completion rates, reinforcing Dubai’s reputation as a smart and secure city.
Artificial Intelligence
The spokesperson explained that the growing number of visitors and tourists in the emirate presents increasing challenges in handling lost items, necessitating a greater reliance on artificial intelligence and modern technologies. The public is encouraged to utilize the smart lost and found service through the dedicated application, which allows them to search for and inquire about items discovered and handed over to the police, encompassing electronics, official documents, jewelry, and other valuable materials. Individuals can identify their lost items and visit the police station to reclaim them after presenting proof of ownership.
Al-Hosani emphasized that the efforts of Dubai Police in managing lost and found items stem from their commitment to customer satisfaction for residents and visitors, ensuring that property is safeguarded through intelligent systems and trained personnel, thereby enhancing the sense of security and tranquility and embodying the leadership’s vision of making Dubai the safest city in the world.