THE ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MEDALS OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, PART 4: MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND POLICE AWARDS

OWAIN RAW-REES

Figure 1: Left to right: Obverses of the Order of Superiority; the Order of

Loyality; and the Order of Bravery.

In addition to the various military and civil awards, the Ministry of Interior also instituted a series of awards.

Indeed, these were the first federal awards to be instituted and attended to by Union Act no. 9 of November 28, 1978. This act was brief, the design and numbers to be issued would be decided at a later date, and only a limited number of awards were instituted:

Decorations

1. a decoration for courage;

2. a decoration for sincere service; 3. any other decorations subsequently instituted by the

president.

Badges

1. a distinguished badge; 2. any other badges subsequently issued by the

ministry of the interior.

The conditions governing each of the above awards, to be accompanied by a certificate, which are open to all ranks, are also brief:

1. Courage Decoration - awarded in accordance with the courage displayed.

2. Sincere Service Decoration - for over ten years service of good conduct and behaviour.

3. Military Distinguished Badge- for notable excellence

in work, studies or on training courses.

This actual series of awards as manufactured in 1982 by Thomas Fattorini Ltd. of Birmingham are as follows (Figure 1):

Order of Bravery

Obverse: A seven-pointed star symbolising the seven constituent emirates of the United Arab Emirates., with serrated edges, bearing a central medallion depicting medieval Arab cavalry symbolising bravery and courage, bearing weapons and surrounded by the inscription, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES MINISTRY OF THE

INTERIOR.

Reverse: Plain other than the inscription,ORDER OF BRAVERY.

Ribbon: 40mm dark blue, with two pairs of 2mm white stripes, 4mm apart, inset 6mm from each edge. Suspension: By a loop through an eye in the uppermost arm of the star.

Order of Superiority

Obverse: A 50mm gilded base-metal medal consisting of a seven-pointed rayed star bearing a central medallion upon which is an open book displaying the falcon crest of the Emirates above which are the rays of the sun. These signify knowledge light and science. To the right the Arabic inscription, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

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To the left the Arabic inscription MINISTRY OF THE

INTERIOR.

Reverse: Plain, other than the inscription, ORDER OF

SUPERIORITY (Figure 2).

Ribbon: 40mm of three equal stripes of sand, blue and

sand. The sand stripes are bisected by a lmm red stripe.

Suspension: By an ornate bar suspension affixed to the

uppermost arm of the star.

Figure 2: Reverse of the Order of Loyality.

Order of Loyalty

Obverse: A 50ram gilded base-metal medal consisting

of a seven-pointed star with 4mm pearl finials bearing a

central medallion of a crenellated tower and walls, with a tree in the foreground. Above which is the inscription, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES MINISTRY OF THE

INTERIOR.

Reverse: Plain other than the inscription, ORDER OF

LOYAL SERVICE.

Ribbon: 40ram wide of five equal stripes of green, red,

white, blue and white. Suspension: By a loop affixed to the rear of the uppermost

arm of the star.

5. Appreciation Medal (two classes)

In 1996, as part of a press announcement, it was noted

that there would be a complete overhaul of the Ministry

of the Interior awards system. All of the aforementioned

Ministry awards were amended with the word "Order"

replaced by "Medal" and later in 1999 the width of the

ribbons was reduced to 36ram. In addition the Ministry

instituted the Emirates Order for Police and Security,

which has now become the senior award of the Ministry.

As of writing no further details concerning this order are

available. As a result of this change the definitive list of

awards of the Ministry of the Interior is as follows:

Award

Emirates Order for Police and Security.

Order of Braver’�. [ Long and Distinguished Service Medal.

i Amalgamation of the Police Force Medal.

Medal for Co-operative Security.

Medal for Loyal Service.

Medal of Appreciation.

Class

5 Classes including a breast star. One class.

2 classes - gold plated and silver finish. One class.

2 classes - gold plated and silver finish.

2 classes - gold plated and silver finish.

2 classes - gold plated and silver finish.

All ribbons are now 34mm except for the first class of

the Order, which has a sash. Of the above series detailed below is the Amalgamation Medal.

Amalgamation Medal (Figure 3)

The official regulations concerning these awards were

amended by Federal Law No. 19 of 1995. This law

decrees that the awards to be as follows:

Orders

1. Order of Gallantry (one class)

2. Emirates Police and Security Order (five

classes)

Medals

1. Long and Distinguished Service Medal (two classes) 2. Police and Security Forces Merger Medal (one class) 3. Co-operative Security Medal (two classes) 4. Loyal Service Medal (two classes)

Figure 3: Obverse (left) and reverse of the Amalgamation Medal

Obverse: A 47mm gilded base-metal circular medal consisting of seven scalloped rims, upon which is a seven-pointed rayed star bearing in the centre a silvered badge of the Ministry of Interior. Inset between each ray of the star is a pearl. Reverse: Within a circle, uppermost the Arabic inscription MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR and below which in two lines, MEDAL OF AMALGAMATION OF POLICE AND

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Figure 4: Sketch of (clockwise front the top) the comnwn obverse:

reserves of the Order of Gallantry; Order of Faithful Service; and Order of Superiority.

SECURITY FORCES. Ribbon: 34mm of 11 equal stripes of dark red running to light yellow to red.

Suspension: By a loop through a ring affixed between

the upper lobes of the medal.

Finally to complete the series of the awards of the United Arab Emirates, there are the two series of Police awards instituted by the Emirates of Dubai and Sharajah. The first series of Dubai Police awards consisted of three medals manufactured by the German company La Comtesse of Roetgen. Each award was a seven-pointed star, of 50 mm in diameter with a circular central medallion (Figure 4). The awards are as follows,

Order of Gallantry

Obverse: A galloping horseman wielding a sword above the Arabic inscription ORDER OF GALLANTRY. Above the horseman the Arabic inscription UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DUBAI POLICE (Figure 5).

Reverse: The original designs had the badge of the Dubai Police, a dhow encircled by a laurel wreath above a scroll with the Arabic inscription DUBAI POLICE on the obverse (Figure 6), but it would appear that upon manufacture this badge became the reverse for all three awards. Ribbon: 40mm wide, dark blue with a narrow beige stripe inset from each edge. Suspension: By a loop affixed to the uppermost point of the star.

Badge of Superiority and Excellence

Obverse: A five pointed crown above which an open

book bearing an oval eye above the Arabic inscription

BADGE OF SUPERIORITY (Figure 5).

Reverse: Same as for Order of Gallantry (Figure 6).

Figure 5: Obverses (left to righO of the Order of Gallantry; Badge of Superiority; and Order of Faithful Service.

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