Dubai Police's newest female recruits have set their sights on success after securing spots in the force's elite sniper unit. The officers had to pass a tough course and demonstrate a range of skills, from enduring humidity and dealing with mirages to learning advanced observation methods. The graduation ceremony was held at the weekend and photographs posted to Dubai Police's social media pages showed the two proud officers taking pride of place with their male colleagues. Speaking at the ceremony, Maj Gen Abdullah Al Ghaithi, praised the female snipers for the efficiency in completing the course. The unit is a small but crucial part of the 15,000-strong Dubai Police force. They guard VIPs, provide security at major events and are on call to deal with emergencies. Dubai Police is known for empowering women and the number of female officers has risen from 17 in 1977 to close to 2,000 today. They work across all levels including as human trafficking investigators and forensic experts.