Detention — step by step

The prosecutor orders detention for 7 days and may extend it by another 14. After that, only a judge can extend it — each time for up to 30 days. Every step is an occasion to apply for release.

Violetta Absalyamova

Business support and legal matters

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Legal Services in the UAE

Criminal Cases in the UAE: Police Summons, Complaint, Travel Ban

Q: I’ve been summoned by the police. Do I have to go?

You need to go, but prepared. If you fail to appear without a valid reason, the prosecutor may issue an order for compulsory appearance. A summons rarely explains what the complaint says, so before the conversation we try to find out who filed it and about what, and decide what to say now and what to say after reviewing the case materials. Bring your passport and the documents related to the case. You have the right not to give statements — if you are detained, the police must inform you of this and tell you what you are suspected of.

Q: Who defends me, and will an advocate be allowed into the questioning?

The defence is conducted by a UAE-licensed advocate: only advocates on the UAE register may appear before the Public Prosecution and the courts. At the Public Prosecution, the law requires that the advocate be admitted to the questioning and given access to the case materials, unless the prosecutor decides otherwise in the interests of the investigation; at the police stage there is no such direct right, so we prepare in advance. We select an advocate for the case, prepare the position, evidence and translations, and remain your point of contact in English or Arabic. The Public Prosecution may not seize documents handed to the advocate or your correspondence with them.

Q: How long can I be held in detention before trial?

The first 72 hours — until the prosecutor’s decision. The police hand a detainee over to the Public Prosecution within 48 hours; it questions them within 24 hours and decides: detention or release. The prosecutor’s detention order is valid for 7 days and can be extended by another 14. After that, only a judge decides: each time up to 30 days of detention, or release, with or without bail. An extension ordered in your absence can be appealed to the president of the court within 3 days. With the accused’s consent, detention may be replaced by electronic monitoring.

Q: What is bail, and will I get the money back?

Bail is a way to be released before the verdict. The amount is set by the prosecutor or the judge; it may be paid into the court’s cash office by the accused or by another person, and instead of money a guarantee from a solvent person is allowed. Release is often combined with a travel ban. If the accused fails to appear or breaches the conditions without a valid reason, the bail is forfeited to the state without a separate court decision; if the case is closed or the accused is acquitted, it is returned in full. If the offence is punishable by death or life imprisonment, release is possible only with the consent of the Attorney General.

Q: A partner accuses me of breach of trust. Is that a criminal case?

An unperformed contract is not in itself breach of trust. Breach of trust is when money or property was entrusted for safekeeping, lease, pledge, loan for use or under an agency and was used for a different purpose; a partner in jointly owned property is treated as an agent. Fraud is different: obtaining property by deception, a false name or a false status, including reselling something already sold. Both offences are set out in the Crimes and Penalties Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, as amended).

Q: My cheque was returned unpaid. Is that a criminal case?

A cheque without funds is in itself no longer a crime: since 2 January 2022, it has been recovered as an enforceable instrument through the execution judge. What remains criminal: closing the account or withdrawing the money before the cheque is presented, instructing the bank not to pay without a lawful reason, a deliberately incorrect signature and forgery — under the Commercial Transactions Law (No. 50 of 2022). Except for forgery, such cases end when the cheque is paid or the parties reconcile. If there was no deception, the task is to show this to the Public Prosecution before the case is referred to court.

Q: Can the case be closed by reaching an agreement with the complainant?

For some offences — yes. Reconciliation before the Public Prosecution or the court ends cases of breach of trust, threats, insult and defamation, invasion of privacy and damage to property — even after a verdict, in which case its enforcement is stopped. For insult, threats and invasion of privacy online, the cybercrime law allows reconciliation up to the final verdict. Fraud is not on this list: compensation is taken into account, but the Public Prosecution may continue the case. Negotiations are conducted by the advocate, not by you personally.

Q: What do I face for an insult on WhatsApp or social media?

It is a criminal case, not “just a quarrel”. Insult or defamation via a messenger or social media — imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 250,000 to 500,000 under the Law on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes (No. 34 of 2021). Threats made to force a person to do something — up to 2 years and/or the same fine; publishing someone else’s photos or correspondence without consent is a separate privacy offence. A harsh message in a dispute often leads to a counter-complaint. For these offences, the law allows reconciliation with the victim before the final verdict.

A police summons in the UAE is no reason to go in unprepared: what you say and sign in the first days will go into the case file. We explain what is happening and what you are facing, prepare your position, documents and translations, and handle the case together with UAE-licensed advocates. If you are the victim, we prepare the complaint so that it shows the elements of a crime, not a contract dispute.

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72 hours
Maximum from arrest to the prosecutor’s decision: detention or release: 15 days
To appeal after the verdict is pronounced: Arabic
The language of the case; an interpreter is your right: EN · AR
We communicate in English and Arabic

Everything we do in the UAE

In short

From arrest to the prosecutor’s decision on detention or release takes at most 72 hours, and statements and records from the first days go into the case file. The case is conducted in Arabic, an interpreter is your right, and an appeal must be filed within 15 days of the verdict.

Checked 16 October 2026 · Violetta Absalyamova

Cost of a mistake

Compulsory appearance

Failing to appear when summoned without a valid reason lets the prosecutor order compulsory appearance, and the situation turns coercive.

How to avoid it

How a criminal case works in the UAE

A case goes through three stages — the police, the Public Prosecution and the court. The first week is often decisive: the statements given, the records signed, a travel ban or detention.

The police gather the materials
They accept the complaint, question the parties, seize documents and devices. A detainee is handed over to the Public Prosecution within 48 hours, and the prosecution must question them within 24 hours.
The Public Prosecution decides the case’s fate
It questions, orders expert examinations, and may impose a travel ban or order detention. The result is to drop the case, impose a fine without trial or refer the case to court.
Court and appeals
Misdemeanours and some felonies are heard by a single judge, the most serious cases by a panel of three judges. 15 days to appeal, 30 days for cassation.
Everything is in Arabic
Records, questioning and the verdict are in Arabic. If you don’t speak the language, the police, the Public Prosecution and the court must provide an interpreter.

Violetta AbsalyamovaHead of Legal Practice · Business support and legal matters

Situations

What clients come to us with

Typical situations

01You have been summoned by the police or the Public Prosecution — by phone call, SMS or summons — and it is unclear who filed a complaint and about what.
02A complaint has been filed against you — by a partner, client, former employee or bank: for fraud, breach of trust, a cheque or insult.
03You or someone close to you has been detained — you need to understand the time limits and apply for release on bail, a guarantee or electronic monitoring.
04You have learned of a travel ban in a criminal case — often right at the airport — or your passport is being withheld.
05You have been the victim of deception or breach of trust and want to file a complaint so that it is not sent back as a civil dispute.
06The case is already in court, a verdict has been issued or the complainant is ready to settle — it is important not to miss the deadlines for appeal and to formalise the reconciliation properly.

Similar, but different

01A counterparty isn’t paying under a contract or a cheque bounced for insufficient funds, but there was no deception. This is debt recovery: a demand, a payment order, the cheque presented for enforcement.Debt Recovery
02Partners are in dispute over the company’s management and money, but there is no criminal offence. The corporate route comes first: documents, protective measures, court.Corporate Disputes
03The summons came from a court, not from the police: a civil or commercial claim has been filed against you. A different procedure and different deadlines.Disputes and Litigation
04The travel ban was imposed over a debt or a rental, not in a criminal case. These are enforcement proceedings, not a defence against a charge.Personal Debts

Detention periods

Without a judge, you can be held for up to 24 days — after that, only a judge can extend detention

Each bar is a legal maximum, not a mandatory term: release on bail, a guarantee or electronic monitoring can be requested at any stage.

Without a judge’s decision

up to 24 days

Time spent in detention counts towards the sentence imposed. An extension ordered in your absence can be appealed to the president of the court within 3 days.

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weeks

Police
up to 48 hours to hand over to the Public Prosecution
Questioning at the Public Prosecution
up to 24 hours, then detention or release
Detention ordered by the prosecutor
7 days
Extension by the prosecutor
up to 14 more days
Extension by a judge
up to 30 days at a time; the judge hears you first

Benefits

What you get

Clarity before questioning

We find out what the complaint is about, which article may apply, what you are facing and what depends on you — before the first questioning, not after.

A prepared position

We build a chronology, select the contracts, correspondence and payment records in your favour and translate them into Arabic in advance.

A UAE-licensed advocate

The defence before the Public Prosecution and in court is conducted by a local criminal advocate. We prepare the materials, stay in touch with you in English or Arabic, and the progress of the case is visible in your client portal.

Detention periods and the travel ban

We track every checkpoint: 48 and 24 hours, 7 and 14 days with the prosecutor, extension by a judge. For each one we prepare an application — bail, a guarantee, electronic monitoring, lifting the travel ban.

Reconciliation that works

If the law allows reconciliation, we formalise it before the Public Prosecution, the court or a notary — so that the case is actually closed.

Money in the same strategy

A criminal case is almost always about money too: a claim for compensation within the criminal case, a cheque presented for enforcement, a settlement with the complainant. We handle all of this under one plan, not separately.

Short of a full trial

Five ways to close a case before the verdict — or to soften it

Which route is open depends on the article and the stage: some close the case entirely, others end it with a fine or a lighter sentence. We choose the route after reviewing the case materials; negotiations are conducted by the advocate.

Which cases

Only cases opened on complaint

including insult and defamation; theft, fraud and breach of trust between spouses and direct-line relatives

Who initiates

The complainant

Outcome

Case closed

Criminal record

if withdrawn before the final verdict

Click an option to highlight it across every parameter

Which cases

Only cases opened on complaint

including insult and defamation; theft, fraud and breach of trust between spouses and direct-line relatives

Listed articles

including breach of trust, threats, insult and defamation, invasion of privacy, damage to property; fraud is not on the list

Misdemeanours without mandatory imprisonment

the list is approved by the Attorney General

Misdemeanours

except penal order cases, qisas and diya, state security, juvenile cases, etc.

Felonies punishable by fixed-term imprisonment

except cases punishable by death or life imprisonment, qisas and diya, state security, juvenile cases, etc.

Who initiates

The complainant

The parties

before referral to court, the Public Prosecution may appoint a mediator: for up to a month, extendable once

The prosecutor

even in the accused’s absence

The Public Prosecution offers it

you may consult an advocate before answering

The Public Prosecution or you

once the investigation is complete and the evidence is strong

Outcome

Case closed

after a verdict, its enforcement is stopped

A fine of up to half the maximum

plus additional penalties and fees

Case closed on conditions

a fine of up to half the maximum, community service, licence revocation, etc.

Sentence: 3 months – 3 years

the court may replace the term with electronic monitoring or suspend it

Criminal record

if withdrawn before the final verdict

if reconciled before the final verdict

Doesn’t count

Conviction

When possible

Before the final verdict

after it, enforcement is stopped and the person is released

At any stage

even after the final verdict

Instead of referral to court

When the case is ready for court

After the investigation ends

the confession can be withdrawn before the verdict

The deadline not to miss

Complaint — within 3 months

from the day the victim learned of the offence and the offender; later complaints are not accepted

Start performing — within 2 weeks

after an agreement reached through a mediator is approved; otherwise the prosecutor may reopen the case

Objection — 7 days

otherwise the order becomes final

Response — 5 working days

silence counts as refusal

Response — 10 working days

silence counts as refusal

Court

Not needed

Not mandatory

formalised before the prosecutor, in court or by a notary with the victim’s signature

Not needed

Approves it

in a closed hearing; the decision cannot be appealed

Issues the verdict

first asks about the confession in the advocate’s presence

Deportation

No — the case is closed

Not for cases with mandatory deportation

Not among the measures

Not imposed

other additional measures are possible

Compensation to the victim

—

Under the agreement’s terms

the record is an enforceable instrument; a civil claim is possible for demands not included

Through the civil court

the order does not bind the civil court

Interim compensation

if the victim has claimed and assessed the damage

The court decides what is returned

together with the verdict; the Public Prosecution may also include interim compensation in its offer

Video consultation with a lawyer

Not sure whether there is a case or a travel ban against you?

We will tell you where to check your status through official services, explain what a record means and advise you on what to do next.

Violetta Absalyamova

Business support and legal matters

Process

8 steps from the first conversation to the result

Every step is visible in the client portal: what’s happening now and whether we need anything from you.

Steps on your side: 1 of 8

We handle it · 3Needed from you · 1Authority · 4

You tell us what happened and send the summons, messages, case number. We find out who the complainant is, what the possible charge is, what stage the case is at and whether there is a travel ban.

Step 1 of 8

Urgent review

You tell us what happened and send the summons, messages, case number. We find out who the complainant is, what the possible charge is, what stage the case is at and whether there is a travel ban.

We handle it1–2 days

Documents

What to gather depends on your role in the case

Information

Documents

Ready

0 / 11

The case is conducted in Arabic: we translate the documents for your position into Arabic. A power of attorney signed abroad must be legalised.

Timing and budget

What makes up the budget

A criminal case is paid for in stages: no one knows in advance how many there will be. We state the budget for each stage before it begins and keep the advocate’s fee, translations and government costs separate from our work.

ItemDepends onWhen

Initial reviewDepends onAnalysis of the situation and documents, risk assessment, a plan for the first week.WhenBefore work starts
UAE-licensed advocate’s feeDepends onDefence before the Public Prosecution and in court. Depends on the seriousness of the charge, the volume of the case and the number of instances.WhenBy stage
Our support feeDepends onThe position, work with evidence, coordinating the advocate and keeping in touch with you at every stage.WhenBy stage
TranslationsDepends onLegal translation of documents and correspondence into Arabic, translation of records and decisions for you.WhenAs needed
BailDepends onThe amount is set by the prosecutor or the judge, and it may be paid by another person; a guarantee is possible instead of money. Bail is returned if the case is closed or the accused is acquitted, and if the accused fails to appear without a valid reason, it is forfeited to the state.WhenIf set
Expert examinationsDepends onFinancial, technical, handwriting — if ordered by the Public Prosecution or the court.WhenIf ordered
Court fee for the civil claimDepends onA claim for compensation within a criminal case is accepted only after the court fee is paid — and only until closing arguments end at first instance.WhenOn filing the claim
Compensation to the complainantDepends onIn a reconciliation, the amount and timing are set by the parties’ agreement. In a misdemeanour settlement, interim compensation is included only if the victim has claimed it and assessed the damage; in addition, the Public Prosecution may propose a fine of up to half the maximum and other measures.WhenOn settlement
Power of attorney and notarisationDepends onPower of attorney for the advocate before a UAE notary, or legalisation of a power of attorney signed abroad.WhenAt the start of the case

Getting it right

Common mistakes — and how to avoid them

Click a card to see how to do it right · 0 of 8 open

01 What people often do
Not responding to a summons “until we figure it out”.
02 What people often do
Explaining everything in detail at the station to “get it over with faster”, and signing the record in Arabic.
03 What people often do
Messaging the complainant on WhatsApp: justifying yourself, applying pressure, threatening a “counter-case”.
04 What people often do
Leaving the UAE in the hope that the case will “go away”.
04 The right way
The case can proceed without you, and on your next entry the issue will come up at the border. Find out your status first and act while there is still time and there are options. Don’t count on the limitation period: it is 5 years for misdemeanours and 20 for felonies, there is none for cases punishable by death or life imprisonment, and any action by investigators, the Public Prosecution or the court restarts the clock.
05 What people often do
Filing a fraud complaint when a counterparty simply hasn’t paid under a contract.
06 What people often do
Reaching a verbal agreement with the complainant, or a handwritten receipt, and considering the case closed.
07 What people often do
Assuming that a fraud case will close by itself once the money is returned.
08 What people often do
Transferring the company or moving money to relatives “just in case” while the case is ongoing.

Ongoing counselsubscription

So your business never ends up at the police

Many criminal cases in business begin with everyday decisions: a cheque “as security”, a power of attorney without limits, company money in a personal account, harsh correspondence. With the “Business Counsel” subscription, such decisions go through a lawyer in advance — for a fixed monthly fee.

Bring a lawyer onto your team

FAQ

Expert answers

Violetta Absalyamova — Business support and legal matters

You need to go, but prepared. If you fail to appear without a valid reason, the prosecutor may issue an order for compulsory appearance. A summons rarely explains what the complaint says, so before the conversation we try to find out who filed it and about what, and decide what to say now and what to say after reviewing the case materials. Bring your passport and the documents related to the case. You have the right not to give statements — if you are detained, the police must inform you of this and tell you what you are suspected of.