Mission possible: Dubai's all-female police graduation class

The graduates will serve as body guards for VIPs like ministers and celebrities visiting Dubai

Dubai elite policewomen squad for VIPs show their skills during a graduation ceremony. AFP

Dubai Police's all-female VIP protection unit was founded back in 1994. Then, there were just six women who formed the squad. By 2014, that number had grown to 17. Just three years later there were 45 highly trained female police officers driving state-of-the-art motorbikes around the city, tasked with protecting the country's elite.

The women undergo regular, intense training in shooting, martial arts and a wide range of combat techniques. This picture shows a number of police cadets demonstrating their exceptional skills during a graduation ceremony in April 2009.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, are among the many VIPs they have been asked to protect. The women are also often called upon to keep special female guests safe while they're in the UAE. This could be the wife of a dignitary or even visiting international celebrities.