The mechanical cop has been trained for three years, before being acknowledged officially.

Vivid descriptions of Dubai's ambition to emerge as a city of the future have been doing the rounds for a while now, and robocops along with flying cabs are among the innovative ideas that stand out. The proactive approach that Middle Eastern economies like UAE have taken, has led to the deployment of autonomous vehicles, AI surveillance and robots in public services across urban ecosystems.

The rise of the machines was often portrayed as a threat to human beings in SciFi sagas, but recent developments have seen androids double up as guides, caregivers and security personnel. To bolster the role of smart bots when it comes to safeguarding Emirati residents, the Umm Al Quwain police department has officially inducted a robotic detective into its ranks.

Named Robotok by its inventors, the crime fighting humanoid has been trained for three years, before being integrated into the law and order machinery of the Emirati city. The smart cop has finally received a badge, along with a job card from the commander-in-chief of the force, after it started providing services earlier this month.

In the years that it was being prepared to join the police department in Umm Al Quwain, detective Robotok was investigation crimes against children in the UAE.

Although Dubai has envisioned robotic personnel protecting people on the street for a long time, the city's water and electricity department is the one that has successfully employed a robo-assistant. The country also has robots to assist with surgeries, guide people at mega events, ensure social distancing in public and even androids that interact with kids.

Different tech exhibitions hosted by the UAE, have also featured robots that can paint, cook and even entertain visitors. As for households, firms are marketing smart machines that can take care of pets.

Elsewhere in tbe gulf, Saudi Arabia has come a long way from being the first to give citizenship to a humanoid, and has used droids to sanitise holy sites.