920 members of Dubai Police working in ports and airports attend Dubai 2003 training workshop on dealing with the media

Organised by the Dubai 2003 Media Committee, in partnership with Dubai TV, the technical and training workshop at the Dubai Police Club was aimed at all members of the police and customs staff employed in security roles at Dubai Port and Dubai International Airport to help learn new techniques to handle the estimated influx of over 2,000 journalists to the UAE in September.

The training session highlighted technical details and advice on how to check television, radio and camera equipment that will be brought to Dubai by hundreds of international television crews and photographers. The police at the workshop were given detailed instructions on how to examine different kinds of equipment, dismantle them and reassemble them if necessary to meet the stringent security requirements that will surround the event.

A video presentation on the many different types of modern television camera and sound equipment was given to the police assembled for the detailed briefing sessions.

Mr. Nasib Bitar, of the Dubai 2003 Media Committee, said they had been very encouraged at the positive response and turnout of the Dubai Police to the workshop. "The Dubai Police are tremendous ambassadors for the UAE and it is important that their dealings with the media should be professional and responsible to help the thousands of visiting media have a positive perception of our country."

"To further help Dubai Police during the Annual Meetings we intend to establish a 24-hour television and engineering hotline that will offer technical assistance to customs officers, police and visiting journalists if they are required to dismantle or investigate equipment for security reasons."

Dubai Television representative at the event, Mr. Ali Khalifa Al Rumaithi, said that he welcomed the support of the Dubai 2003 Security Committee in helping to set up and manage this important workshop event.

Mr. Al Rumaithi said: "Dubai TV and Dubai 2003 are working very closely together to ensure the success of this world-class event that will place the UAE on the world map for the financial and business sector."

"It is vital that the Police have the skills required to provide a balance between ensuring security and dealing with the arriving media and their technical equipment in a professional, polite and courteous manner."

He added that the Dubai 2003 Media Committee was planning to host further workshops in the weeks ahead to assist reporters and technical staff from Dubai Television and Radio.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. The UAE and Dubai were selected because of their highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.