Dubai Police have released details of several murder cases in which the perpetrators attempted to stage the crimes as suicides or accidents. In one case, testing the strength of a shower curtain rod proved decisive, while in another, traces of flammable substances found beneath a burnt-out vehicle helped uncover the truth and identify those responsible.

Using engineering tests, DNA analysis, chemical examinations and advanced 3D technologies, Dubai Police experts identified evidence that challenged the initial accounts of the incidents.

Lieutenant Colonel Dr Mohammed Ali Al Qasim, Head of the Forensic Engineering Section at Dubai Police’s General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology, explained how seemingly minor clues can expose elaborate attempts to stage crime scenes and lead investigators to the perpetrators.

Speaking on the Dubai Police podcast, he said forensic engineering plays a key role in investigating suspicious deaths, identifying staged crime scenes and determining the causes of fires and accidents. Such examinations help experts establish whether an incident was deliberate, accidental, caused by negligence or the result of a technical defect.

The episode, hosted by Mohammed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, is scheduled to be released at 6pm on Friday, November 6, 2026, on the Dubai Police YouTube channel and platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Murder uncovered through shower curtain rod test as staged suicide exposed

In one case, the body of a national of an Asian country was found hanging from a shower curtain rod inside a villa.

Although the initial evidence suggested suicide, specialist examinations revealed inconsistencies that raised the possibility of murder.

To recreate the circumstances of the incident, experts tested the strength of the shower curtain rod and the belt used by applying weights of known mass to determine how much load each could withstand.

The tests showed that the shower curtain rod would break under a load of about 90 kilograms, while the belt could not withstand more than around 70 kilograms.

These findings were inconsistent with the condition in which the body was discovered, enabling investigators to rule out suicide and conclude that the scene had been deliberately manipulated to conceal a murder.

Further investigations led to the identification and arrest of the perpetrator.

Fuel residue beneath vehicle exposes man’s murder

In another case, a woman and a man with whom she was romantically involved attempted to conceal the murder of her husband by burning his body and vehicle near an industrial area.

The suspects intended to make the fire appear accidental, but experts examining the scene discovered traces of petroleum products beneath the vehicle.

Investigators collected samples for laboratory examination and conducted DNA tests, chemical analyses and forensic examinations of evidence recovered from the crime scene.

The tests showed that the substances found at the scene matched traces detected on the victim’s body.

The findings established a scientific link between the evidence and showed that the fire had been deliberately started to destroy evidence of the murder.

The investigation ultimately exposed the crime and led to the perpetrators’ conviction.

Al Qasim said deliberate fires are relatively uncommon in the UAE compared with accidental fires.

He said investigations into building and vehicle fires require different specialist methods. To determine the origin and cause of a fire, experts examine physical and chemical evidence, digital evidence, the likely point of ignition and the way the blaze spread.

3D facial reconstruction of decomposed body leads police to killer

In another case, advanced forensic technologies helped Dubai Police identify a body found in a desert area and ultimately track down the killer.

The body was severely decomposed, and its facial features had changed so extensively that conventional identification methods proved unsuccessful.

Dubai Police specialists combined 3D scanning, genomic technologies, DNA testing, image and video analysis and digital evidence examination to reconstruct an approximate image of the victim’s face based on the skull’s structure.

Scientific examinations also helped determine the victim’s sex, age group and likely nationality.

The reconstructed image was shared with the relevant criminal investigation units, helping officers narrow their search and establish the victim’s identity.

Further investigations led to the identification and arrest of the killer.

Al Qasim said the case demonstrated how combining different branches of forensic science can turn limited evidence into decisive investigative leads.

Dubai Police Forensic Engineering Section applies 23 specialist protocols

Dubai Police’s Forensic Engineering Section operates under 23 approved protocols within its quality management system, covering a wide range of technical and specialist examinations.

These examinations cover incidents involving buildings, transport, electrical and mechanical systems and various materials. The section also investigates fires, electrocutions, structural collapses, system failures, falls from height and road accidents.

Al Qasim said Dubai Police is a pioneer in this specialist field, having established the Middle East’s first forensic engineering investigation unit within its forensic science and criminology department.

The section works closely with forensic medicine, forensic chemistry, forensic biology and digital evidence units to ensure investigative findings are based on reliable scientific evidence and can be submitted to judicial authorities.

Its specialists develop their expertise through domestic and international training programmes and professional certifications.

Dubai Police forensic laboratories also operate in accordance with internationally recognised accreditation standards to improve the reliability of technical examination results.

Digital twins and 3D technology used to reconstruct crime scenes

According to the head of Dubai Police’s Forensic Engineering Section, advanced technologies have enhanced experts’ ability to accurately reconstruct complex incidents.

Digital twin systems and 3D scanning allow specialists to document crime scenes and virtually reconstruct incidents such as explosions, vehicle collisions and falls from height.

These technologies help experts examine the sequence of events and determine whether the physical evidence is consistent with the initial account of an incident.

Combining 3D technologies with genetic examinations, DNA testing and digital evidence analysis also makes it possible to produce approximate facial reconstructions of unidentified victims.

Forensic engineering helps prevent fatal incidents

The work of Dubai Police’s Forensic Engineering Section is not limited to solving crimes, but also includes identifying dangerous technical defects and unsafe products.

Al Qasim cited cases in which technical defects in vehicle airbags contributed to fatal accidents.

After identifying the defect, Dubai Police coordinated with the relevant authorities to recall affected vehicles and rectify the problem.

The findings were also published in a peer-reviewed scientific paper so relevant organisations and authorities in other countries could benefit from them.

The section has also investigated incidents caused by the use of unsafe devices and products or those that failed to meet approved standards.

Experts’ technical reports help determine the causes of incidents, establish the responsibility of the individuals or entities involved and support preventive action in coordination with the relevant authorities.

Turning technical evidence into scientific proof for the courts

Al Qasim said forensic engineering has become a core part of Dubai Police’s investigative capabilities and plays an important role in turning complex technical details into scientific evidence that can be relied upon within the judicial system.

“Linking engineering sciences with criminal investigations adds significant value to the judicial system and enables experts to interpret technical details and transform them into clear scientific evidence,” he said.

He said the section’s responsibilities extend beyond identifying the causes of incidents and determining liability to include detecting emerging risks and working with relevant entities to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

Al Qasim also highlighted the Dubai Police leadership’s support for developing specialist personnel, advanced technologies, technical equipment and training opportunities. He said these investments had strengthened the Forensic Engineering Section’s ability to handle a wide range of cases in Dubai and abroad when formal requests are received from the relevant authorities.

He concluded that developing national expertise and harnessing advanced sciences are essential to strengthening criminal investigations, preventing incidents and protecting the lives and property of community members.