Dubai: Woman overcomes fear of police to become one of the youngest forensic experts on the force

Hanan Al Mulla was scared of the police and had never imagined that she would one day become a part of the force.

One of UAE’s young scientists, Al Mulla now works with Dubai Police as a forensic DNA expert.

“I watched CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) stuff a lot and I still do. I watched every crime documentary on Netflix. I never realised that I was actually going to work in the police. I thought the police was actually a scary thing, but when you meet them that they’re very friendly, they carry out a lot of initiatives to become closer to society,” says the young scientist.

Hanan, who was always fascinated by biotechnology, biology and modern sciences, even during her school days, joined Dubai Police in 2019 after getting a Bachelor’s degree.

“But they told me that I have to get a Master's Degree first with their scholarship. So I got a Master’s Degree in bioinformatics from the University of Birmingham. When I worked with Dubai Police, I never thought in my whole life that I worked in the police force. But when I went there, it was so interesting – we have lab work, desk jobs and fieldwork as well. All that diversity is really good to work in.”

Hanan’s father was an Emirati and her mother is from the Philippines, thereby giving her a wide view of society. She experienced two very different cultures from the early days of her childhood. Her first language was English.

“I went to a private British school until the second grade and I was a topper in my class. I moved to a government school in the third grade, because my family wanted me to learn Arabic. In exams, I had either zeros or ones after that, because I didn't know what the teacher was saying. Then I had a tutor for three months. Next year, I came 6th in fourth grade because I chose good friends. In the ninth grade, I was back at the top of my class again.”

Being an introvert, Hanan likes spending a lot of time alone. “When I'm alone, I can think clearly and exactly what I want. And I think it's useful for me to have my own time for myself. But, of course, not all the time.”

She also received good support from her family and friends at school. Hanan credits her mother for playing a big part in shaping her personality.

“My dad’s family also supports me all the time because whenever I win an award or I speak at a public forum, they always send me a message of congratulations. It's always nice to know that they have my back. If I need help, I know I can go to them. They always say ‘we’re proud of you'. So, that's very encouraging.”

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While sharing details of her experience in school, Hanan said she had heard about the mixed-race students being bullied, but she never experienced it. “My schoolmates actually admired me, which gave me the confidence to go out and explore the world, study abroad and work in the police.”

For people, especially youngsters, it’s easier to progress when they surround themselves with people of the same interest, she noted.

Hanan, who holds the highest degree in bioinformatics – which is a combination of computer science, big data, biology and statistics, is also a member of the Dubai Police Scientists Council. The Council was established to bring improvement and development of research work.

But when Hanan is not solving crimes, she loves to read and paint.

“I read a lot of books – both fiction and nonfiction. I read to teach myself a lot of stuff. I set my goals and accordingly use my time to paint, write or read. I even appreciate and analyse movies,” Hanan told Khaleej Times during a recent conference in Dubai. The young and inspiring scientist takes part in different television programmes and panel discussions at forums in Dubai.

She also advised them to listen to the wise words of UAE leaders as they strive for excellence.