News

Dubai Police Reveal New 10-Minute Drug Testing Device

The technology eliminates human error or operator bias, setting it apart from conventional narcotics testing methods.

Published

1 year ago

March 16, 2024

dubai police reveal new 10-minute drug testing device

Dubai Police has introduced a groundbreaking device at the World Police Summit known as the Rapid Test Cup. The new narcotics analyzer ensures fast and accurate examination and identification of thirteen drug types, helping to reduce custody times from seven hours to just ten minutes. The Rapid Test Cup also eliminates the risk of human error or operator bias, setting it apart from conventional drug testing methods.

Although the new device is certainly innovative, developing the Rapid Test Cup was challenging. To ensure its effectiveness, the project underwent 3272 separate trials.

“We are working hard to overcome the high-cost techniques traditionally used for detection, such as manufactured cannabinoids, opiates, and ketamine. Our goal is to proactively detect modern drug abuse with quick, easy, and high-quality screening techniques,” said Faisal Al-Taniji, head of Dubai’s Department of Biological Movement at the Narcotics Observatory Center.

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“This project aligns with our administration’s commitment to advancing the methods and tools employed in forensic evidence and criminology. We strive to provide advanced models that support laboratories, enhance performance levels, and facilitate optimal investment in testing techniques and tools,” added Ibtisam Abdul Rahman Al-Abdouli, Director of the Drug Observatory Center at the General Administration of Forensic Evidence and Criminology in an official press release.

Developers of the Rapid Test Cup have also announced that intellectual property rights have been obtained for the new device, and its technology is available upon request through Dubai Police if criminal laboratories worldwide wish to use it.

News

Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch

Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Published

2 days ago

July 16, 2025

Nour Nasir

saudi ev adoption accelerates with byd expansion and tesla launch

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.

Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.

The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

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However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.

In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.

With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.