Competent anti-narcotics authorities in the United Arab Emirates have warned of the evolving methods adopted by drug promotion and trafficking networks, as the digital space, encrypted applications, and artificial intelligence technologies have become tools that can be exploited to target individuals, especially youth, according to their personal interests, behaviors, and needs.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Khayat, advisor to the National Anti-Narcotics Agency, explained in statements covered by the Emirati press on Friday, November 13, 2026, that some promotional methods are no longer based on direct contact or traditional means, but have begun to leverage data analysis and information available on digital platforms to reach those most vulnerable to recruitment.
He pointed out that these methods may exploit the interest of some young people in bodybuilding and physical fitness by promoting supplements containing addictive substances, or by targeting individuals suffering from social withdrawal with offers of pills claimed to boost self-confidence. These examples are provided to illustrate the nature of potential risks, not as the result of specific seizures announced today.
These warnings came during a press conference held on Thursday to announce a specialized anti-narcotics conference, organized by the relevant Emirati authorities on November 17 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, as part of the World Police Summit running from November 16 to 18, 2026.
The conference is expected to discuss security, health, and legislative challenges related to drugs, in addition to ways to dismantle cross-border trafficking networks, the growing threat of synthetic psychotropic substances, and the potential for employing artificial intelligence in detecting and countering criminal activities.
The National Anti-Narcotics Agency emphasized the importance of coordination between security, health, educational, and social institutions, within the framework of the National Anti-Narcotics Strategy for the period 2024–2031, with a focus on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
Participating officials stressed that protecting youth cannot be achieved through security measures alone, but requires enhancing digital awareness within families and educational institutions, and encouraging dialogue between parents and children, which helps in detecting recruitment attempts and reporting them at early stages.
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