Crime in the United Arab Emirates

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UAE police vehicle Dubai Gold Souq entrance and Dubai Police vehicle.jpg
UAE police vehicle

The crime rate in the United Arab Emirates is relatively moderate [1] [2] compared to more highly industrialized nations. [2] Incidents of petty crime such as pickpocketing are low. [1] The United States Department of State states: "Crime generally is not a problem for travelers in the UAE. However, the U.S. Embassy advises U.S. citizens to take normal precautions against theft, such as not leaving a wallet, purse, or credit card unattended. Although vehicle break-ins in the UAE are rare, U.S. citizens are encouraged to ensure that unattended vehicles are locked and that valuables are not left out in plain sight". [3]

Contents

Terrorism

The United Arab Emirates has been listed as a place used by investors to raise funds to support militants. [4] Businesses based in the UAE have been implicated in the funding of the Taliban and the Haqqani network. [5] In January 2022, a terrorist attack against three oil tanker trucks and an under construction airport extension infrastructure occurred in Abu Dhabi. The attack was conducted by the Houthi movement and killed 3 civilians. [6]

Cybercrime

Incidents of cybercrime are increasing. In 2002, there was a 300% rise in computer hacking within six months. According to experts, the United Arab Emirates is among the top ten countries which are most vulnerable to attack by hackers. [7] White-collar crime includes embezzlement of funds, fraud and bribery. [8]

Drugs

The UAE is a drug transshipment country for traffickers due to its proximity to Southwest Asian drug producing nations. [9] Drug trafficking is a major form of crime in the UAE, [10] and the nation has a zero tolerance policy towards illegal drug use. Possession of the smallest amount of illegal drugs is punishable by a minimum of four years' imprisonment [11] and a maximum punishment of death. [12]

A drug trafficking “supercartel” run by Edin “Tito” Gacanin of Bosina and Herzegovina, was found operating via Durban and having headquarters in Dubai. He is a wanted criminal in Netherlands, of which he holds a passport. On 12 January 2021, a container ship carrying 739.5 kilos of cocaine from Durban was caught in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In November 2022, Gacanin was arrested in Dubai as a prime suspect in organising, a brokering and financing the cocaine consignment from Durban. Netherlands government raised an extradition requested for Gacanin. However, the Dubai authorities released him from custody two months after the arrest. The US described Gacanin as “one of the world’s most prolific drug traffickers” and imposed sanctions against him. The US Treasury also stated that Gacanin’s cartel is involved in money laundering and has close ties with the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, another drug cartel residing and running operations from Dubai. [13] [14]

Money laundering

The UAE is vulnerable to money laundering due to its position as a major commercial driver in the region. [9] The UAE leadership has taken several measures for combating organized crime. A law was enacted in January 2002 for the purpose of curbing money laundering. [10] However, despite government efforts to combat money laundering, regulation of banking is still developing. [9]

Washington-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies released a report that US sanctioned war profiteers, terror-funders and drug traffickers have been long-using Dubai's real-estate market as a money-laundering haven. [15]

In a report published in April 2020, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) questioned the UAE’s system despite what it called “significant steps” to strengthen regulations, including new legislation in 2018 and 2019. [16] In its 2020 assessment, FATF called the Emirates' limited money laundering prosecutions a “concern” and urged the country to strengthen its measures. [17] In November 2021, the UAE submitted a report to FATF, but the country failed to achieve a number of thresholds. [18] On 4 March 2022, FATF placed the UAE in its grey list of countries subject to increased monitoring, due to the shortcomings in addressing the issue of money laundering and terror financing. The organization said that the Emirates made “significant progress” in enhancing its systems, but there was still a need for improvements in several areas. [19] [20]

Murder

According to the Global Study on Homicide, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the homicide rate in the UAE in 2012 was 2.6 per 100,000. [21] The average global homicide rate for that period was 6.3 per 100,000 population.

Human trafficking

Porous borders and proximity to war-affected countries like Iraq increase the problem of human trafficking into the UAE. [22] Trafficking into the country is generally of young boys and women. The most usual purpose of such trafficking is involuntary servitude, employment in deceptively undeclared adverse and abusive conditions, and sexual exploitation. [2]

Involuntary servitude and abusive labor conditions

In 2006, young boys continued to be trafficked into the country for the purpose of being used as camel jockeys. [2] [23] There were many camel jockeys working in the UAE under inhumane conditions; a program to gradually replace exploited child jockeys with robot jockeys was initiated.

The number of human trafficking cases officially notified in the UAE has been falling. In the first half of 2014, reports of three cases of human trafficking were received by the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) compared to 12 in the same period of 2013.[ needs update ] [24]

A report from the US Department of State into Trafficking in Persons: UAE in 2021, concludes that violations of Emirati labor laws in which signs of human trafficking were present, were not routinely investigated by authorities, and "efforts to identify ... forced labor victims and male victims, remained weak and data collection remained insufficient." [25] The report also noted: "The government did not report convicting any labor traffickers during the reporting period and historically has not reported any forced labor convictions." [25]

Sexual exploitation

According to the United States Department of State's 2021 report into Trafficking in Persons: UAE, the country's most recent annual statistics were prosecutions in nineteen sex trafficking cases, compared to thirty-eight in the year before: [25]

...during the reporting year the government prosecuted 54 individuals in 19 sex trafficking cases, zero individuals for forced labor crimes, and three individuals in one child forced begging case across the seven emirates, compared with 67 individuals in 38 sex trafficking cases the year prior. Officials reported conviction of 15 sex traffickers and administered sentences ranging from one to seven years' imprisonment, with the vast majority of perpetrators receiving three years or more with additional fines and subsequent deportation at the conclusion of sentences. During the previous year, the government convicted 33 sex trafficking defendants under trafficking laws and handed down similar punishments.

Women trafficked into the country for sexual exploitation were reported, in 2007,[ needs update ] as being trafficked from: Syria, Iraq, Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Romania, Moldova and its disputed constituent Transnistria, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Morocco, India, the People's Republic of China, the Philippines, Iran and Pakistan. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money laundering</span> Process of concealing the origin of money

Money laundering is the process of illegally concealing the origin of money obtained from illicit activities such as drug trafficking, underground sex work, terrorism, corruption, embezzlement, and treason, and converting the funds into a seemingly legitimate source, usually through a front organization. As financial crime has become more complex and financial intelligence is more important in combating international crime and terrorism, money laundering has become a prominent political, economic, and legal debate. Money laundering is ipso facto illegal; the acts generating the money almost always are themselves criminal in some way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camel racing</span> Popular sport in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia

Camel racing is a racing sport in which jockeys riding on camels compete against each other to finish a set number of laps around a circular racetrack. It is most popular in Western Asia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Pakistan, Mongolia and Australia. Professional camel racing, like horse racing, is an event for betting and tourism. Camels can run at speeds up to 65 km/h in short sprints and they can maintain a speed of 40 km/h for an hour. Camels are often controlled by child jockeys, but allegations of human rights abuses have led to nationwide bans on underage labor in the UAE and Qatar. In modern camel racing, camels are often controlled by remote controlled robotic whips.

The illegal drug trade, drug trafficking, or narcotrafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs through the use of drug prohibition laws. The think tank Global Financial Integrity's Transnational Crime and the Developing World report estimates the size of the global illicit drug market between US$426 and US$652 billion in 2014 alone. With a world GDP of US$78 trillion in the same year, the illegal drug trade may be estimated as nearly 1% of total global trade. Consumption of illegal drugs is widespread globally, and it remains very difficult for local authorities to reduce the rates of drug consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti–money laundering</span> Financial integrity policy framework

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) refers to a set of policies and practices to ensure that financial institutions and other regulated entities prevent, detect, and report financial crime and especially money laundering activities. Anti-Money Laundering is often paired with the action against terrorism financing, or Combating the Financing of Terrorism, using the acronym AML-CFT. In addition to arrangements intended to ensure that banks and other relevant firms duly report suspicious transactions, the AML policy framework includes financial intelligence units and relevant law enforcement operations.

Terrorism financing is the provision of funds or providing financial support to individual terrorists or non-state actors.

Human rights in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are substantially restricted. The UAE does not have democratically elected institutions and citizens do not have the right to change their government or form political parties. Activists and academics who criticize the government are detained and imprisoned, and their families are often harassed by the state security apparatus. There are reports of forced disappearances of foreign nationals and Emirati citizens, who have been abducted, detained and tortured in undisclosed locations, and denied the right to a speedy trial and access to counsel during investigations by the UAE government. Human Rights Watch states that Emirati laws maintain capital punishment and discriminate against women, migrants and LGBT individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Financial crime</span> Crime against property

Financial crime is crime committed against property, involving the unlawful conversion of the ownership of property to one's own personal use and benefit. Financial crimes may involve fraud ; theft; scams or confidence tricks; tax evasion; bribery; sedition; embezzlement; identity theft; money laundering; and forgery and counterfeiting, including the production of counterfeit money and consumer goods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Russia</span>

Crime in Russia refers to the multivalent issues of organized crime, extensive political and police corruption, and all aspects of criminality at play in Russia. Violent crime in Siberia is much more apparent than in Western Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Iran</span>

Crime in Iran is present in various forms, and may include the following offences: murder, kidnapping, theft, fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, drug dealing, alcohol smuggling, oil smuggling, tax evasion, terrorism, homosexuality, not wearing "proper" hijab, eating and drinking during Ramadan, drinking alcohol, and many other crimes.

Prostitution in Moldova is an illegal activity but is widespread and socially acceptable. UNAIDS estimate there to be 12,000 prostitutes in the country.

Tajikistan ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol in July 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking in Ukraine</span>

In 2008, Ukraine was a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked transnationally for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor.

The United Arab Emirates ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol in January 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking in the United Kingdom</span>

The United Kingdom (UK) is a destination country for men, women, and children primarily from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe who are subjected to human trafficking for the purposes of sexual slavery and forced labour, including domestic servitude. It is also a source country since some victims, including minors from the UK, are also sex trafficked within the country. British citizens accounted for 25% (4,299) of all recorded potential victims in 2023, when they represented the most frequently referred nationality. The majority of UK nationals were child potential victims.

Kazakhstan ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol in July 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking in the Middle East</span>

The trafficking of persons is the fastest growing and most profitable criminal activity after drug and arms trafficking. According to the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, human trafficking is defined as follows: “Trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”

The legal system in the United Arab Emirates is based on civil law, and Sharia law in the personal status matters of Muslims and blood money compensation. Personal status matters of non-Muslims are based on civil law. The UAE constitution established a federal court system and allows all emirates to establish local courts systems. The emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have local court systems, while other emirates follow the federal court system. Some financial free trade zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have their own legal and court systems based on English common law; local businesses in both emirates are allowed to opt-in to the jurisdiction of common law courts for business contracts.

Sex trafficking in Myanmar is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Myanmar is primarily a source and transit country for sexually trafficked persons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinahan Organised Crime Group</span> Irish criminal organisation

The Kinahan Organised Crime Group (KOCG), also known as the Kinahan Cartel, is a major Irish transnational organised crime syndicate alleged to be the most powerful in Ireland and one of the largest organised crime groups in the world. It is also established in the UK, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. It was founded by Christy Kinahan in the 1990s. His eldest son Daniel manages the day-to-day operations of the family's criminal group. Estimated reports have credited them with wealth of up to €1 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Jordan</span> Jordan safety and crime

Jordan is generally regarded as one of the safer countries in the Middle East, with a relatively low crime rate compared to global standards. However, like any country, it does experience certain types of criminal activity. Understanding the nature and extent of crime in Jordan can provide valuable insights into the country’s safety, especially for visitors and expatriates.

References

  1. 1 2 United Arab Emirates Archived 2008-08-29 at the Wayback Machine Government of Australia, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  2. 1 2 3 4 "United Arab Emirates". Archived from the original on 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  3. ↑ United Arab Emirates Archived December 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine United States Department of State
  4. ↑ Walsh, Declan (December 5, 2010). "WikiLeaks cables portray Saudi Arabia as a cash machine for terrorists". The Guardian . London. Archived from the original on December 15, 2016.
  5. ↑ "US embassy cables: Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network using United Arab Emirates as funding base". The Guardian . December 5, 2010.
  6. ↑ Charbel Mallo and Celine Alkhaldi. "3 killed in suspected Houthi drone attack in Abu Dhabi". CNN. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  7. ↑ Lawrence M. Salinger (2004). Encyclopedia of white-collar & corporate crime . SAGE. p. 44. ISBN   0-7619-3004-3.
  8. ↑ Lawrence M. Salinger (2004). Encyclopedia of white-collar & corporate crime. SAGE. p. 45. ISBN   0-7619-3004-3.
  9. 1 2 3 United Arab Emirates The World Factbook
  10. 1 2 Lawrence M. Salinger (2004). Encyclopedia of white-collar & corporate crime. SAGE. p. 46. ISBN   0-7619-3004-3.
  11. ↑ United Arab Emirates Archived 2008-09-01 at the Wayback Machine Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  12. ↑ "RAK drug traffickers sentenced to death by firing squad". 12 February 2010.
  13. ↑ Dolley, Caryn (14 April 2023). "Connecting the global drug trafficking dots – Durban and Dubai linked to cocaine smuggling 'supercart/el'" . Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Dolley, Caryn (19 October 2024). "Dubye to justice – alleged drug kingpin wanted by the Dutch also freed in Gupta-style UAE extradition saga" . Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "Report describes Dubai real estate as money-laundering haven". ABC News . Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "UAE Faces Risk of Inclusion on Global Watchlist Over Dirty Money". Bloomberg. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures in the United Arab Emirates" (PDF). Middle East and North Africa: Financial Action Task Force. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  18. ↑ "UAE Faces Risk of Inclusion on Global Watchlist Over Dirty Money". Bloomberg. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "United Arab Emirates placed on money laundering 'gray list'". International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  20. ↑ England, Andrew (4 March 2022). "Financial crimes watchdog puts UAE on 'grey list'". The Financial Times. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "Global study on homicide".
  22. ↑ Fikree, Sawsan (October 30, 2007). "Fight human trafficking". gulfnews.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008.
  23. ↑ Richard Giulianotti, David McArdle (2006). Sport, Civil Liberties and Human Rights. Routledge. p. 15. ISBN   0-7146-5344-6.
  24. ↑ "Sharp fall in human trafficking cases in UAE" . Retrieved December 4, 2014.[ needs update ]
  25. 1 2 3 Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (2021). 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report: United Arab Emirates (Report). United States Department of State.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  26. ↑ Atul Aneja (6 December 2007) "Dubai declares war on human trafficking" The Hindu [ needs update ]
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