The UAE is drafting a bill that regulates entry and use of white weapons in the country, a senior Ministry of Interior official announced today.
Lt Colonel Isa Saeed Al Shamsi, Director of Weapons and Explosives at the MoI's Criminal Security Administration, said the MoI was making the law with assistance of ministries of economy, justice, and environment as well as the municipalities, Federal Customs Authority, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, directorates of police and a panel of legal and weapons experts.
Al Shamsi made his statement after chairing today the first meeting of an ad hoc committee tasked with crystalising preliminary ideas and proposals on the content of the draft law.
"The phenomenon of increasing use by youths and juvenile delinquents of the white arms in the past period in several cities in the country has many negative consequences on the local community and its security and stability. It could also lead to emergence of gangs and promotion of concept of violence," he added.
He stressed that a holistic, transparent containment strategy will be worked out.
White arms or white weapons is a common Arabic term for any non-firearm type weapon used for self-defense or killing including swords, daggers, sticks, and batons among others.