Fraud
Allegations of deceiving another party for financial gain, spanning bank fraud, investment fraud, insurance fraud and commercial fraud. We assess the transaction, the representations made and the evidence relied on.
Criminal Law & Defense · Financial Crime · Dubai, UAE
Financial Crime & Fraud Lawyer Dubai
Accused of fraud, embezzlement or money laundering - or facing a financial crime investigation? Speak to a lawyer before your next interview or statement.
Financial crime allegations move quickly from a complaint to a police file, and the steps taken in the first days can shape the rest of the matter. MBM defends individuals, executives and businesses across the UAE in fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust, forgery and money-laundering matters, from the earliest enquiry through to representation before the criminal courts.
The framework
Fraud, embezzlement and money laundering in the UAE
Most financial crime allegations in the UAE are addressed under the Crimes and Penalties Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021), which covers fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust and forgery among other offenses. Money-laundering allegations are generally addressed under the UAE's dedicated anti-money-laundering legislation, which can also involve the UAE's financial regulators depending on the sector.
Which provisions apply, and how a specific set of facts is characterised, depends on the transaction, the parties and the evidence available. This page describes the general framework; it is not advice on your matter.
Primary sources
UAE Legislation — uaelegislation.gov.ae · Dubai Public Prosecution — dxbpp.gov.ae · Dubai Police — dubaipolice.gov.ae
Matters we handle
Financial crime allegations MBM defends
Financial crime cases are document-heavy and fact-sensitive. These are the allegations that most often reach us - if yours is not listed, it is still worth a confidential call.
Embezzlement & Breach of Trust
Allegations that someone entrusted with funds, assets or a position of authority has misused that position for personal gain. Common in employer-employee and partner-partner disputes.
Money Laundering
Allegations connected to the source, movement or concealment of funds. These matters often involve UAE financial regulators as well as the criminal courts, and typically demand early, specialist advice.
Forgery & Document Fraud
Allegations involving forged signatures, altered or fabricated commercial documents, forged cheques and use of forged documents, including electronically created or altered documents.
White-Collar & Corporate Crime
Investigations connected to a company that create personal exposure for directors, officers or employees, including regulatory and compliance-related criminal matters.
Suspected Internal Fraud
Where a business suspects internal misappropriation, the decision on whether and how to report it - and how to preserve evidence in the meantime - carries its own risks. We advise before that decision is made.
How it works
From investigation to resolution
Financial crime matters in the UAE typically move through the same procedural path as other criminal matters, though the evidence-gathering stage is often longer.
Stage 01
Investigation
Financial crime investigations often involve document review, bank records and expert accounting analysis. This stage can run for some time before any formal complaint is filed.
Stage 02
Police
Statements and interviews before Dubai Police or the relevant authority, sometimes alongside a regulator. Advice before an interview is important given the technical nature of these allegations.
Stage 03
Public Prosecution
Referral to Public Prosecution, further questioning, and a decision on whether the matter proceeds to criminal court. Financial detail and documentary evidence are often central here.
Stage 04
Criminal Court
Proceedings before the Court of First Instance, frequently involving expert or forensic accounting evidence alongside the legal arguments.
Stage 05
Judgment
The Court issues its judgment on the evidence and arguments presented, including any financial penalties or restitution ordered.
Stage 06
Appeal
Where grounds exist, assessing and pursuing an appeal before the Court of Appeal, within strict statutory timeframes.
Our approach
What MBM actually does on a financial crime matter
Concrete steps, not a promise to “make it go away”.
Assess the exposure
We review the transaction, the documents and the allegation to identify what is actually being said against you, and what the realistic range of outcomes looks like.
Prepare before any interview
Where a police or Public Prosecution interview is scheduled, we advise on your position beforehand so a statement is not given without understanding its consequences.
Engage with the financial evidence
Financial crime cases are won and lost on documents - bank records, contracts, correspondence. We work through the paper trail rather than arguing in the abstract.
Coordinate the civil dimension
Where a related civil claim exists or may arise - recovery of funds, a contract dispute, a debt - we coordinate with MBM’s civil litigation team so the two tracks do not work against each other.
Represent at every stage
From the first police contact through Public Prosecution to the criminal courts and, where grounds exist, appeal.
Before you call
What to have to hand
You do not need any of this to call us - but having it ready makes the first conversation more useful.
If an interview is scheduled or you have already been contacted by the police or Public Prosecution, call first. Do not wait to gather documents.
- Any notice or summons receivedFrom the police, Public Prosecution, a regulator or a court
- Relevant contracts and financial recordsBank statements, invoices, transfers, cheques
- Correspondence connected to the matterEmails, messages or letters, including from any other party
- A timeline of eventsAs you understand them, with dates where you can
- Details of any statement already givenWhat was said, to whom and when
Why MBM
Financial complexity, handled directly
Financial crime allegations combine legal and financial detail. MBM works through both rather than treating the numbers as someone else’s problem.
- Litigation experience in-house. The people advising you are the people who would represent you before the court.
- Comfortable with the documents. Bank records, contracts and correspondence are read closely, not summarised at a glance.
- Civil and criminal together. Where a related civil claim exists, we coordinate rather than run two disconnected matters - see civil law and debt recovery.
- No promises on outcome. MBM’s role is diligent, strategic representation on the facts and the applicable law.
17Years in practice as MBM Businessmen Services L.L.C.
90+Years of shared experience across the team
10Lawyers, litigation and arbitration capable
95%Win rate in high-stakes disputes, as published by the firm
Common questions
Financial crime in the UAE, answered directly
General information, not advice on your matter. Positions and procedures can change and depend on your specific facts.
What counts as financial crime under UAE law?
Financial crime is a broad category that in the UAE typically includes fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust, forgery of documents or cheques, and money laundering, dealt with principally under the Crimes and Penalties Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021) and, for money-laundering allegations specifically, UAE anti-money-laundering legislation. Which provisions apply depends on the facts.
I have been accused of fraud in Dubai - what should I do first?
Seek legal advice before attending any interview with the police or Public Prosecution, and before signing or providing any statement. Early advice can affect what options remain available later in the matter.
What is the difference between a civil fraud claim and a criminal fraud allegation?
The same underlying facts can sometimes give rise to both a criminal complaint and a separate civil claim for compensation or recovery. MBM can advise on both dimensions where relevant, coordinating with its civil litigation team.
Can a company or its directors be investigated for financial crime in the UAE?
Yes. Investigations can extend to a company and to its directors, officers or employees where their conduct is in question. MBM advises businesses and executives on corporate exposure, internal reviews and representation before Public Prosecution.
What happens after a financial crime complaint is filed in Dubai?
Matters generally move through police investigation, referral to Public Prosecution, and - where Public Prosecution decides to proceed - criminal court hearings and judgment. The exact path and timeframe depends on the nature and complexity of the allegation.
Is money laundering treated differently from fraud or embezzlement?
Yes. Money-laundering allegations are generally addressed under the UAE's dedicated anti-money-laundering framework, which sits alongside the Crimes and Penalties Law and can involve additional regulatory bodies. It is a distinct area of practice, and MBM advises on it specifically.
Can a bounced cheque lead to a criminal complaint as well as a civil claim?
A dishonoured cheque can be pursued as a civil debt-recovery matter, and in some circumstances the underlying conduct may also raise criminal questions such as forgery or fraud, depending on the facts.
Can MBM assist with an internal investigation before any authority is involved?
Yes. Businesses sometimes seek advice on a suspected internal fraud or misappropriation before deciding whether, or how, to report it to the authorities. MBM can advise on that assessment as well as on subsequent representation.
Does MBM handle forgery and false-document allegations?
Yes, including allegations involving forged signatures, commercial documents, cheques and electronically forged documents, from the investigation stage through to the criminal courts.
Is my consultation about a financial crime matter confidential?
Yes. Every consultation and engagement with MBM is treated with professional confidentiality, whether the matter is at the enquiry stage or already before Public Prosecution or the criminal courts.
Can MBM guarantee that charges will be dropped or reduced?
No responsible law firm can guarantee the outcome of a criminal matter or that a complaint will be withdrawn. MBM's role is to provide diligent, strategic representation based on the facts and the applicable law.
How quickly should I contact a lawyer after learning of a financial crime investigation?
As early as possible - ideally before any interview, statement or document is provided to the police, Public Prosecution or a regulator. Early advice can shape the options available for the rest of the matter.
Confidential consultation
Tell us about your matter
Tell us briefly about your matter. Our team will review your enquiry and advise you on the appropriate next step. Every consultation is treated as confidential.
If you have been contacted by the police, Public Prosecution or a regulator, or an interview is scheduled, please call rather than waiting for a reply by email.
- +971 4 570 0204Dubai office · Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00
- WhatsApp +971 54 596 1111Discreet, and often the fastest way to reach us
- info@mbm-co.comAttach any notice or correspondence you have received
Practice area: Criminal Law — Financial Crime
Jurisdiction: Dubai, Sharjah & UAE
Last reviewed: September 2026
Thank you — your enquiry is with our team.
A member of MBM’s criminal law team will review what you have sent and come back to you with the appropriate next step, in confidence.
If your matter is time-critical, please call +971 4 570 0204 rather than waiting.
Financial crime allegations move fast. Advice should move faster.
Whether you are facing an investigation, a complaint or a referral to Public Prosecution, the earlier the file is reviewed, the more options remain open. The first consultation is confidential.