Dubai · Sharjah · Abu Dhabi · Ajman · RAK · All 7 Emirates
Don't panic. Don't speak without a lawyer present. You have the right to legal representation immediately upon arrest — before any police questioning. This right exists regardless of your nationality.
Our advocates speak Arabic, English, Urdu, and Hindi. We reach police stations, Public Prosecution, and courts across UAE within hours. Call now — the first 24 hours are critical.
If you've been the victim of fraud, breach of trust, assault, cybercrime, or any criminal act, you have the right to file a formal complaint with UAE police and the Public Prosecution. A criminal complaint can run alongside a civil claim — you can recover damages and pursue criminal accountability simultaneously.
We represent victims in criminal proceedings across all UAE courts and in all languages — Arabic, English, Urdu, and Hindi.
UAE criminal law is governed by the Federal Penal Code and specific laws including Cybercrime Law (FL 34/2021)
The first 24 hours after an arrest are the most critical. What you say — and don't say — determines the outcome of your case. Follow these steps exactly.
This is the single most important thing. Anything you say to police can and will be used against you. You have the legal right to remain silent and to request a lawyer before any questioning. Politely say: "I request a lawyer before answering any questions."
UAE law gives you specific rights at the point of arrest. State them clearly and politely. Police are legally required to respect these rights.
Every country's embassy in UAE can provide consular assistance to their nationals who are arrested. This includes helping arrange legal representation and communicating with your family. Pakistani, Indian, Filipino, and other embassies in UAE have specific consular services for this purpose.
Our criminal defense advocates are available 24 hours. We attend police stations, Public Prosecution offices, and courts across all 7 UAE emirates. We advise in your language — Arabic, English, Urdu, or Hindi. The sooner we're involved, the more options we have to protect you.
Police can hold you for up to 48 hours without filing charges. After this, Public Prosecution must be involved.
For serious crimes, Public Prosecution can extend detention up to 7 days. Court approval needed for further extension.
Cash deposit or passport surrender. New 2026: e-tagging (electronic monitoring) available as bail alternative in eligible cases.
National security offenses and major drug trafficking are not eligible for bail. Immediate legal representation is essential.
Whether you are accused, arrested, or a victim seeking justice — we represent both sides across all UAE criminal courts.
Representing accused persons at every stage — police station, Public Prosecution, First Instance Court, Appeal, and Cassation. Theft, assault, fraud, forgery, harassment, defamation, and all criminal charges under the UAE Penal Code. We attend immediately upon arrest.
Embezzlement, misuse of funds placed in trust, misappropriation by employees or business partners. Under Article 453 of the UAE Penal Code, penalties range from 1 to 7 years imprisonment. Companies can file both criminal complaint AND civil compensation simultaneously.
Online defamation, WhatsApp harassment, electronic fraud, hacking, sharing private photos, fake news, cyber extortion. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 34/2021, penalties range from AED 150,000 fine to 7+ years imprisonment. VPN and anonymous accounts do not protect you.
Money laundering, bank fraud, investment fraud, forgery of commercial documents, cheque fraud with intent. UAE has a zero-tolerance policy on financial crimes. Criminal charges can run alongside civil debt recovery proceedings for maximum enforcement.
UAE has strict drug laws — even small amounts can result in imprisonment. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 30/2021, first-time possession for personal use: minimum 3 months or AED 20,000–100,000 fine. We handle defense, reduce charges, and assist with treatment referrals where applicable.
See drug cases page →Not sure whether to file a criminal complaint, or unsure if your situation constitutes a crime? We provide confidential legal consultations — advising individuals and businesses on whether to pursue criminal vs civil routes, and what evidence is needed before filing.
Facing a travel ban from a criminal case, cheque bounce, or civil judgment? We apply to the Public Prosecution or court to lift the ban — providing cash deposit equivalent to the claim, or a passport guarantee from a stable UAE resident. Many bans are lifted within days.
Cheque-related travel bans →When a bounced cheque involves intentional fraud — stop payment orders, closed accounts, forged signatures — criminal liability still applies under the 2022 law. We handle both the criminal defense and the civil execution simultaneously.
See cheque bounce page →Not sure which type of case you have?
Get a free confidential assessment →Understanding the process removes the fear of the unknown. Here's exactly what happens at each stage — and where we intervene to protect you.
After arrest, police conduct initial investigation at the station. You have the right to remain silent and request a lawyer before questioning. Dubai Police must refer the case to Public Prosecution within 48 hours (or 7 days for serious offenses).
The Public Prosecution reviews the police file and decides: refer to court, dismiss, or continue investigation. This is a critical stage — our advocates engage directly with prosecutors to present your defense, negotiate charge reductions, or seek case dismissal before it reaches trial.
The case is heard before the Criminal Court. We present your defense — challenging evidence, cross-examining witnesses, arguing procedural errors, and presenting mitigating circumstances. For serious charges, written submissions and expert witnesses may be involved.
If convicted at First Instance, you have 30 days to file an appeal. We review the judgment for legal errors, procedural violations, or disproportionate sentencing. The Court of Appeal can reduce, reverse, or uphold the original verdict.
The highest level of appeal in UAE's criminal justice system. Cassation reviews points of law only — not facts. Reserved for cases where a lower court misapplied the law. We handle Cassation petitions for cases where principle legal arguments remain.
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 7/2016, expats convicted of serious felonies face mandatory deportation and re-entry ban. This can mean permanent separation from UAE-based family and loss of career. Avoiding a criminal conviction — through early engagement, plea negotiation, or charge reduction — protects your residency. The time to act is before conviction, not after.
Breach of trust is one of the most commonly filed criminal complaints in UAE — by employers against employees, by businesses against partners, and by individuals against trusted parties who misused their money or property.
Breach of trust occurs when a person uses, embezzles, conceals, or misappropriates money, movable property, bonds, receipts, or other valuables that were entrusted to them by another party — and fails to return them on demand.
In theft, property is taken without consent. In breach of trust, the accused already had legal possession of the property — they were trusted with it. This makes it a separate, often more serious offense in UAE law.
Employee misappropriates company funds, inventory, or assets given to them for business purposes.
Partner withdraws shared business funds for personal use or transfers assets without authorisation.
Agent receives advance payment or deposits from client and fails to remit or return them.
Contractor receives advance payment for project, fails to complete work and refuses to refund.
Company manager misuses their access to company accounts, assets, or client funds.
Person entrusted with documents, titles, or bonds refuses to return them on demand.
A criminal complaint for breach of trust can be filed by any individual or company that entrusted property to another party. The criminal complaint can run simultaneously alongside a civil claim for compensation — you pursue criminal accountability AND financial recovery at the same time.
File criminal complaint + civil compensation simultaneously. Obtain travel ban on accused. Freeze assets before they are moved.
Challenge the "trust" element — was the relationship truly one of trust? Negotiate settlement before trial. Reduce charges through early payment.
UAE has one of the strictest cybercrime laws in the world. A single WhatsApp message, social media post, or forwarded video can result in criminal charges, substantial fines, and imprisonment.
This law replaced Federal Law No. 5 of 2012 and significantly expanded the scope of cybercrime offenses and penalties. It applies to any act committed inside or outside UAE if the target, victim, or effect is within UAE territory.
Posting, sharing, or sending content that harms another person's reputation — on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or any platform. Includes forwarding defamatory messages you did not create.
Fraudulent websites, phishing emails, fake accounts used to obtain money or personal data. Misrepresenting identity online to obtain financial benefit. Mandatory prison sentence applies.
Threatening to publish private photos, videos, or information unless a payment is made. Includes sextortion — threatening to share intimate images. One of the most severely prosecuted cybercrime offenses in UAE.
Accessing another person's email, social media, or device without consent — even with the password. Reading someone's WhatsApp on their phone without permission can constitute unauthorized access under this law.
Sharing photos or videos of a person without their consent — especially in private or intimate situations. Applies even if the photo was originally shared willingly in a private context.
Spreading false information that damages public order, social peace, or the reputation of the state or its institutions. This includes forwarding unverified news in group chats — even without intent to harm.
A common misconception is that using a VPN or an anonymous account provides legal protection in UAE. It does not. UAE law enforcement uses advanced technical tools to identify the source of online content — regardless of VPN usage. Anonymous accounts have been successfully traced and prosecuted.
File a formal cybercrime complaint with Dubai Police cybercrime unit. We help gather digital evidence, prepare the complaint, and pursue criminal and civil claims simultaneously.
Charged with a cybercrime offense? Intent and context matter. We challenge evidence, contest the legal interpretation of the act, and pursue the most favourable outcome — from charge reduction to full dismissal.
We attend police stations, Public Prosecution offices, and criminal courts across every UAE emirate — within hours of your call.
Dubai has the most active criminal court system in UAE. We represent clients before Dubai Criminal Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Dubai Public Prosecution. For cybercrime cases, we work directly with Dubai Police cybercrime unit. Financial crime cases are frequently filed in Dubai — we handle DIFC Courts for financial center-related matters.
Abu Dhabi's criminal courts handle a significant volume of government-related fraud, financial crime, and cybercrime cases. Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution operates independently from Dubai. ADGM Courts cover financial crime in the Abu Dhabi Global Market zone.
Sharjah Criminal Court covers a large expat population — many cases involve Pakistani and Indian nationals facing charges related to employment, financial disputes, and online offenses. We represent clients before Sharjah courts in Urdu and Hindi where needed.
Ajman criminal cases are often underserved by larger law firms. Faster processing in many cases compared to Dubai. We cover Ajman Criminal Court and Prosecution for all offense types — from breach of trust to cybercrime.
Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain are fully covered. Criminal cases in northern emirates often involve construction, manufacturing, and trading sector disputes. Travel ban and asset freeze orders cross all emirates — we handle enforcement everywhere.
The Federal Supreme Court hears Cassation (final appeal) cases on points of law. For serious criminal convictions where lower courts have misapplied UAE law, we prepare and file Cassation petitions — the highest level of criminal defense available.
Criminal cases are time-critical. We are available 24 hours — call or WhatsApp immediately if you or someone you know has been arrested. We attend police stations across UAE within hours.
When you're facing criminal charges in UAE, who you call first makes a material difference to the outcome. Speed, experience, and language matter more than anything.
Criminal cases in UAE move fast — 48-hour detention limits, 15-day objection windows, 30-day appeal deadlines. Our advocates are available 24 hours and attend police stations, Public Prosecution offices, and courts across all UAE emirates within hours of your call. The first few hours after arrest are the most critical.
Pakistani and Indian expats represent a significant proportion of criminal cases in UAE — particularly involving employment disputes, financial matters, and cybercrime. Being able to explain your full situation — the context, the background, what actually happened — in your own language changes how we build your defense.
Many firms only appear at trial. We engage from the moment of arrest — at the police station, Public Prosecution, First Instance Court, Appeal, and Cassation. Early engagement at the Prosecution stage frequently results in charge reduction or dismissal before a case ever reaches trial. That option disappears if you wait too long.
We handle both sides of criminal cases — defending the accused and prosecuting on behalf of victims. In both cases, we give you an honest assessment from day one: what the evidence shows, what the realistic outcomes are, and what strategy gives you the best chance. No false promises, no inflated expectations.
Fill in the form — we respond within 1 hour. For immediate emergencies, call or WhatsApp directly.
Criminal cases are time-critical. We respond at any hour — including weekends and holidays.
Our advocates attend police stations across all UAE emirates within hours of your call.
No fees to discuss your case. No obligation to proceed. Honest assessment from the start.
Explain your full situation in your own language — it makes a difference to how we defend you.
Emergency? Contact directly:
WhatsApp — 24/7 Call: +971 52 179 5170 info@ittihadlegalconsultants.comEverything you need to know about criminal cases, arrests, and your rights in UAE — answered clearly.
Police can hold you up to 48 hours without charge. The sooner a lawyer is involved, the more options you have.
Breach of trust (Khiyanat Al-Amanah) under Article 453 of the UAE Penal Code — misappropriating money or property that was entrusted to you.
Governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 34/2021. Key offenses and penalties:
Yes. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 34/2021, sending defamatory, threatening, or harassing messages via WhatsApp or any digital platform is a criminal offense. Forwarding defamatory content — even if you did not create it — can also result in charges.
Apply to the Public Prosecution or court that imposed the ban. Common methods:
Yes. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 7/2016, expats convicted of serious felonies face mandatory deportation after serving their sentence, plus a re-entry ban. For lesser offenses, deportation is at the court's discretion.
Still have questions?
Ask our advocates — free consultation →Criminal cases often connect to other legal matters. We handle all of these across UAE — simultaneously where needed.
File civil compensation claims alongside criminal proceedings. Recover financial damages in parallel — criminal accountability + financial recovery simultaneously.
Financial disputes escalated to criminal complaints. Recover debt through criminal breach of trust complaint + civil execution simultaneously.
Criminal cheque fraud — stop payment orders, closed accounts, forged signatures. Civil execution and criminal prosecution handled together.
UAE's strict drug laws apply to possession, use, and trafficking. Specialist defense for drug charges — charge reduction, treatment referral, full defense.
Domestic abuse criminal charges, child abduction, criminal complaints connected to divorce disputes. Criminal and family law handled together.
Employer criminal complaints against employees, wrongful breach of trust allegations connected to employment disputes. MOHRE + criminal courts.
Free confidential consultation — we assess your full situation and recommend the right legal approach.
