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United Arab Emirates (AE)

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah — that has transformed from a pearl-diving and fishing economy into one of the world's most modern and cosmopolitan nations within a single generation.

Capital: Abu Dhabi
Region: Middle East
Language: Arabic
Currency: AED (د.إ)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 78)
Emergency: 999
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in United Arab Emirates.

The UAE has a highly active scam environment targeting the large, internationally mobile expatriate population. Fake job offers, property fraud, investment scams, and visa fraud are the most dangerous. UAE Labour Law makes it illegal for employers to charge workers recruitment fees — any job offer requesting upfront payment is fraudulent. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issued a major public advisory in October 2025 warning of a new wave of fake job and visa processing scams. Police take fraud seriously but recovery of transferred funds is difficult. Emergency: 999. Report online fraud: Dubai Police eCrime portal at ecrime.dubaipolice.gov.ae. Abu Dhabi Police: adpolice.gov.ae.

Fake Job Offer and Work Visa Fraud

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Criminal networks create convincing fake job offers — impersonating real UAE companies, airlines, hotels, and financial institutions — targeting job seekers from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe. Victims are asked to pay AED 2,000–20,000 or more for visa processing, training certificates, medical tests, uniform, or "work permit deposits". UAE labour law explicitly places all recruitment costs on the employer; any request for upfront payment from a job applicant is illegal. MOHRE issued detailed guidelines in October 2025 warning that scammers increasingly impersonate licensed recruitment agencies. Victims arrive in the UAE to find no job exists, or are stranded with fraudulent visas.

How to spot it
  • - Any request for upfront payment from you for visa processing, training, uniform, or medical tests — this is illegal under UAE labour law
  • - Offer letter arrives before any interview or after only a very brief online screening
  • - Communication is via WhatsApp or personal email rather than official company systems
  • - Company email uses free domains (@gmail.com, @yahoo.com) for a purportedly senior position
  • - Cannot verify the company name on Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) or Abu Dhabi company registries
  • - Job advertised on informal social media with no verifiable company profile
What to do: Verify the company via the Dubai DET company search (eservices.dubaided.gov.ae) or Abu Dhabi company registries before responding. Never pay any fee to secure a job in the UAE. Verify job offer authenticity via MOHRE's application status inquiry at mohre.gov.ae. Report fake job offers to MOHRE: call 009716-802-7666 or email ask@mohre.gov.ae. Report to Dubai Police Anti-Economic Crimes Unit via ecrime.dubaipolice.gov.ae.

Fake Visa and Golden Visa Services

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Fraudulent "visa consultants" charge large fees (AED 3,000–30,000+) for visa applications that are either never submitted, submitted fraudulently, or available through official channels at a fraction of the cost. UAE Golden Visa fraud is particularly prevalent — scammers promise to secure Golden Visa eligibility that does not exist for the victim's profile. Some fraudsters collect full payment and disappear. Others submit fraudulent applications that result in entry bans.

How to spot it
  • - Guaranteed approval of any UAE visa category regardless of eligibility assessment
  • - Fees paid 100% upfront with no phased payment tied to application milestones
  • - Consultant cannot provide a verifiable UAE commercial licence number
  • - Website domain is not affiliated with an official UAE government domain (.gov.ae)
  • - Application process described as having "special channels" unavailable to the public
  • - Pressure to decide quickly before "quota fills" or a rule change
What to do: Use only MOHRE-registered or ICP-verified immigration service providers. UAE visa applications are made via ICP eChannels (icp.gov.ae) or the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security. Golden Visa eligibility is assessed by official authorities — no private agent can guarantee outcomes. Report fraud to Dubai Police or Abu Dhabi Police.

Investment Scam (Crypto, Forex, High-Yield Schemes)

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UAE attracts significant investment fraud targeting high-earning expats. Forms include: cryptocurrency investment platforms showing fake returns, forex managed trading accounts, pyramid and MLM schemes promising 5–20% monthly returns, and "exclusive" pre-IPO investment opportunities. Scammers build trust via WhatsApp over weeks before requesting deposits. UAE is used as a branding tool to add credibility — claims of "Dubai Financial Centre licence" or "SCA registration" should always be independently verified.

How to spot it
  • - Guaranteed monthly returns — no legitimate investment guarantees returns
  • - Operator not verifiable on the Capital Market Authority (CMA) register at sca.gov.ae or DIFC Financial Services Register at dfsa.ae
  • - Initial small "test investment" appears to return profit quickly — designed to build confidence before a larger ask
  • - Pressure to invest quickly to take advantage of a time-limited opportunity
  • - Social media testimonials with unverifiable profiles and screenshots of profits
  • - Withdrawals require additional "tax" or "processing" payments before funds are released
What to do: Verify any investment firm on the CMA register (sca.gov.ae) or DFSA register (dfsa.ae) before investing anything. Never invest in unregulated schemes. Report unregistered operators to the CMA Financial Intelligence Unit or Dubai Police Economic Crimes Department via ecrime.dubaipolice.gov.ae.

Property Rental Deposit Fraud

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Fraudsters list non-existent or already-rented properties on Property Finder, Dubizzle, or WhatsApp at attractive prices, collecting "reservation fees" or "holding deposits" of AED 5,000–20,000 before disappearing. A more sophisticated variant involves an impersonator posing as the genuine landlord of an occupied property. Dubai and Abu Dhabi's competitive rental market creates urgency that scammers exploit.

How to spot it
  • - Rent price significantly below market rate for the area and property type
  • - Agent or landlord cannot show you the property or requests payment before any viewing
  • - RERA agency registration number (BRN) cannot be verified on the Dubai Land Department (DLD) website
  • - "Other parties are interested" pressure to pay immediately
  • - Payment requested to a personal bank account rather than a verified company account
  • - Landlord cannot produce the property title deed matching their Emirates ID
What to do: Never pay any deposit without a face-to-face in-person viewing. Verify agent BRN registration via the DLD website (dubailand.gov.ae). Use the Dubai REST app to verify property ownership before signing anything. Only pay via verified company bank accounts. Register your Ejari after signing — this requires title deed verification. Report fraud to Dubai Police at ecrime.dubaipolice.gov.ae.

Tenancy Contract Fraud (Fake Landlord)

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A fraudster posing as a legitimate landlord presents a tenancy contract for a property they do not own. The tenant pays rent by post-dated cheques. After several months, the real owner appears and lawfully evicts the tenant. The fraudster has already cashed the cheques and is unrecoverable. This variant is less common but has caused significant losses in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi markets.

How to spot it
  • - Landlord cannot produce the property title deed matching their Emirates ID
  • - Tenancy contract format does not match the RERA standard Unified Tenancy Contract
  • - Landlord insists on cash payment only
  • - Rent is priced significantly below the market
  • - Landlord discourages or prevents Ejari registration
What to do: Always verify landlord ownership via the DLD app — the title deed must match the person presenting as landlord. Use a RERA-registered agent. Insist on Ejari registration (mandatory in Dubai) which requires title deed verification. Report suspected fraud to Dubai Police or RERA.

Fake Bank SMS and WhatsApp Phishing

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Fraudsters send SMS or WhatsApp messages impersonating Emirates NBD, ADCB, FAB, Mashreq, or other UAE banks. Messages claim your account is blocked, a suspicious transaction needs verification, or you have won a prize. Links lead to fake banking websites that capture credentials and OTPs. WhatsApp is used more heavily in UAE-targeted bank phishing than in most other markets.

How to spot it
  • - Message directs you to click a link — your bank will never send you a direct login link via SMS or WhatsApp
  • - URL in the message is slightly misspelled (emiratesnbd-secure.com instead of emiratesnbd.com)
  • - Message requests your card number, PIN, CVV, or OTP
  • - Unsolicited claim that your card has been blocked — call the number on the back of your card directly instead
  • - WhatsApp message from an unknown number claiming to be bank security
What to do: Never click links in banking SMS or WhatsApp messages. Call your bank directly using the number on your card or on the official bank website. Report phishing to your bank's fraud hotline and to the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) at tdra.gov.ae.

Business Setup Fraud (Fake Free Zone Consultants)

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Fraudulent "business setup consultants" charge excessive fees, provide incorrect trade licences (wrong activities, non-existent addresses), or collect full payment and disappear before completing the application. Some submit applications to incorrect jurisdictions or use virtual addresses that do not meet the free zone's requirements. This is particularly prevalent as many new UAE residents want to establish freelance or company licences.

How to spot it
  • - Pricing significantly below market for business setup services — legitimate licences start from AED 10,000–15,000
  • - Consultant cannot provide their own DET or free zone agency registration details
  • - Requests 100% of the total fee before providing any licence documentation
  • - Office address used is a virtual address with no physical presence where required
  • - Cannot provide independent references from verifiable existing clients
What to do: Only use DET-registered consultants or contact free zones directly. Pay in stages tied to application milestones — not 100% upfront. Verify your licence directly on the DET portal (eservices.dubaided.gov.ae) or relevant free zone portal once supposedly issued.

Fake Charity Solicitations (Including Ramadan)

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Particularly common during Ramadan. Fraudsters impersonate registered UAE charities — Emirates Red Crescent, UAE food banks, or internationally recognised names — via WhatsApp, social media, or SMS, soliciting zakat and sadaqah donations that go to personal accounts rather than registered organisations.

How to spot it
  • - Donation link leads to a non-official website or a personal bank account rather than an official charity portal
  • - High-pressure urgency: "donate within 30 minutes to maximise your zakat reward"
  • - Charity name cannot be verified against the UAE Ministry of Community Development (MOCD) approved charities list
  • - Collector approaches informally in shopping malls or markets without official ID and collection permit
What to do: Donate only to officially registered UAE charities through their verified official websites. Emirates Red Crescent: emiratesrc.ae. UAE Ministry of Community Development approved charities list: mocd.gov.ae. Report suspected charity fraud to Dubai Police.

Reporting

Where to report: Dubai Police eCrime portal: ecrime.dubaipolice.gov.ae — for cybercrime, investment fraud, and online scams. Abu Dhabi Police: adpolice.gov.ae. Emergency: 999. UAE Central Bank fraud hotline: 800 CBUAE (800 22823). Investment and securities fraud: Capital Market Authority (CMA) at sca.gov.ae. Telecom and internet fraud: Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) at tdra.gov.ae. Fake job offers: MOHRE at mohre.gov.ae — call 009716-802-7666 or email ask@mohre.gov.ae.

Consumer helpline: Dubai Consumer Protection (Department of Economy and Tourism): 600 545555. Abu Dhabi consumer complaints: 800 555. Federal Ministry of Economy consumer protection: 600 522225. MOHRE for labour and job offer disputes: mohre.gov.ae — 800 60 (within UAE).