A social media post regarding an Emirates ID that was found in Dubai. EXPAT MEDIA
Finding an Emirates ID, passport, wallet or other valuable item in a Dubai street or public place may seem like a simple opportunity to help its owner. But holding on to the item and hoping the owner will come looking for it is not the safest way to handle it.
Under Dubai’s current lost-and-abandoned property law, people who find lost property have specific obligations, including registering the item with Dubai Police and handing it over within prescribed deadlines.
The rules are particularly relevant for valuable personal documents such as Emirates IDs and passports, which can contain sensitive information and are difficult for their owners to replace.
What should you do if you find something?
Dubai Law No. (17) of 2025, concerning the disposition of lost and abandoned property, requires a person who finds lost or abandoned property to register it through the Dubai Police electronic system within 24 hours.
The item must then be handed over to Dubai Police within 48 hours of being found.
The law also prohibits a finder from possessing or disposing of the property with the intention of claiming it as their own.
In other words, even if your intention is simply to keep an Emirates ID safe while trying to locate its owner, the law provides a formal process for handing it over.
Dubai Police records the item through an official receiving report containing details such as its description and condition, the finder’s information, and where and when it was found.
Why not just post it on social media?
Community Facebook and WhatsApp groups can sometimes help reunite people with lost belongings, but they should not replace the official lost-property process.
Posting an Emirates ID, passport or other personal document publicly can also expose personal information belonging to the owner.
More importantly, keeping the item yourself means you are responsible for it while it remains in your possession. Handing it to Dubai Police puts the item into an official system designed to record, store and return lost property.
What happens to the item after you hand it over?
Dubai Police manages the lost-and-found process, including receiving and storing property, recording its details and announcing found items where necessary.
The law allows rightful owners to reclaim their property before it is disposed of. If lost property is sold, its owner may claim its value within three years of the sale, subject to the law’s procedures. The law also provides an incentive for people to report items they find.
Dubai Police may award a finder a certificate of appreciation or a financial reward equivalent to 10 per cent of the property’s value, up to Dh50,000, subject to the applicable rules. A finder may also request to keep an item if no owner comes forward within one year, although the property must be returned if the owner subsequently appears.
What if you find something in another emirate?
Lost-property rules can differ between emirates, so residents should follow the procedures of the emirate where the item was found.
In Ajman, the law on lost-and-found items requires a finder to hand over lost property to Ajman Police within 48 hours, unless there is a valid excuse accepted by the authorities.
Police issue an official receipt documenting the item, the finder and where it was discovered.
The important principle is the same: don’t keep it, use it or dispose of it as though it belongs to you.
What are the penalties in Dubai?
Dubai’s law provides penalties for violations, with administrative fines that can range from Dh500 to Dh100,000, while repeat violations within one year can result in doubled penalties of up to Dh200,000.
The law also states that a finder who fails to comply with the required procedures may face criminal liability in circumstances specified by the legislation.
So, the next time you spot an Emirates ID, wallet, passport, phone or another valuable item lying on the pavement, in a taxi, at a mall or elsewhere in Dubai, think twice before putting it in your pocket. The safest approach is to report it and hand it over through the official authorities rather than trying to become the lost-and-found department yourself. PIA/CAM/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page
+ There are no comments
Add yours