Dubai Police Academy was established in 1987 in Dubai. The academy was given autonomy in accordance with this Act provided that it is affiliated to the Dubai Police General Headquarters.

Study began at the academy in the academic year 1987-1988 when 51 cadets and 30 full-time students enrolled. This batch of students consisted of on-job police officers in the Dubai Police.
In 1989 His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy-President of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Dubai attended the ceremonies of the formal inauguration of the academy.

In the academic year 1998-1999 the curriculum of the academy included the graduate course in law and police sciences. These comprised:
a) A graduate diploma in general law,
b) A graduate diploma in private law.

As of the academic year 1988-1998 the academy opened its doors to welcome new students from the countries of the GCC. In the academic 1996-1997 students from some Arab countries, like the Republic of Yemen and the State of Palestine, were admitted to the academy.

The academy started as a college and was then changed to an academy. The few coming days will witness transforming the bill drafted for this purpose to a general integrated act.