When you need help with a criminal case in the UAE
- a business partner, employer, landlord or individual has filed a police complaint against you;
- you have been asked to give a statement to the police or the public prosecution;
- a relative has been detained and you do not know where or why;
- you discovered a wanted notice or travel ban at the airport — see UAE travel ban;
- you need to report a crime against you: fraud, misappropriation, threats.
Many criminal cases in the UAE grow out of business: allegations of breach of trust or misappropriation of company funds, disputes over transfers and cheques, social media posts and messages. UAE laws on defamation, insults and online conduct are stricter than many newcomers expect — a messenger chat can be enough for a police complaint.
How criminal proceedings work in the UAE
- Police. They register the complaint, take statements and gather material. At this stage a passport may be retained or travel restricted.
- Public Prosecution. It reviews the file, questions the accused, decides on detention or release, and whether to refer the case to court or close it.
- Court. The case is heard at first instance; the judgment can be challenged on appeal and in cassation.
Proceedings are in Arabic. Statements you sign at the police station carry real weight, so you need to understand them before signing. You are entitled to ask for an interpreter.
For certain categories of offence the law allows reconciliation between the parties, which can affect the outcome. Whether that is available to you depends on the charge.
What we do and what the advocate does
ALROA Legal Consultancy is a legal consultancy. Defence before the UAE prosecution and criminal courts is conducted by a UAE-licensed advocate, so on criminal matters we always work together with one. Our role:
- urgently establishing the status of the case and, if someone is detained, where they are held;
- choosing an advocate suited to the type of case and coordinating their work;
- gathering documents and evidence — contracts, correspondence, bank statements;
- building the defence position, translating material and explaining every step to the family;
- where the case stems from a commercial dispute, running the civil side in parallel — for example debt recovery or a shareholder dispute;
- once the case is over, lifting restrictions: travel bans, wanted notices, return of the passport.
A note on cheques
Since 2 January 2022, a cheque bouncing for insufficient funds is, in most cases, no longer a criminal offence: the payee can take it straight to civil enforcement. Cases involving bad faith — such as a cheque issued with intent to deceive — remain criminal. Civil enforcement on a cheque can still bring coercive measures, including a travel ban. If you have an older cheque case, its current status should be checked separately.
Timing and fees
Timing depends on the type of case, the prosecution's position and whether the matter reaches court. No one can honestly promise to "close the case in a week": we assess real prospects after reviewing the file.
Urgent consultation from AED 750 for 60 minutes. Case support on a fixed fee from AED 5,000 per stage; the advocate's fee, government fees and translations are itemised in the estimate before work starts. We reply within 30 minutes in working hours — message us on WhatsApp or Telegram.
FAQ
Do not ignore the summons, and speak to a lawyer before you go. Do not sign anything in Arabic unless it has been translated to you.
Before the UAE criminal courts and prosecution, a licensed UAE advocate appears. We work with them: coordinating the defence, preparing documents and keeping you informed.
For some categories of offence the law allows reconciliation between the parties. Whether it is possible in your situation depends on the charge.
Not always. Once the case is closed we check your status and, if needed, apply to have the restrictions removed.