HomeIs the UAE a member of Interpol?
Yes, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a full-fledged and extremely active member of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
The UAE joined the organization in October 1973, just two years after the formation of the state itself. However, the UAE’s membership is not just a formal presence on the list of 196 countries. In recent years, the Emirates have become one of the most influential and prominent participants in the organization, which has led to both recognition of their contribution to global security and serious international criticism.
Understanding how the UAE interacts with Interpol is critically important for anyone living, doing business, or even just transiting through Dubai. Interpol mechanisms, especially the Red Notices system, are actively used by UAE law enforcement agencies. Often, this occurs in situations that in other countries would be considered purely civil or commercial disputes, such as outstanding loan debts or failure to fulfill business obligations.
This article examines in detail what Interpol really is, the specifics of the UAE’s participation in it, and what specific risks this creates for expats, investors, and tourists in 2025.
What is Interpol?
Many mistakenly imagine Interpol as some kind of global police force with its own armed agents who can make arrests anywhere on the planet. This is a Hollywood myth.
In fact, Interpol (ICPO, International Criminal Police Organization) is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Lyon, France. Its main function is not law enforcement but the exchange of information and facilitation of police cooperation between member countries.
Interpol does not have its own prisons, its own detectives in the classical sense, or the right to arrest people. All fieldwork is carried out by the national police of each specific country. Interpol provides them with a secure infrastructure and tools for fast and safe data exchange.
The key element of this infrastructure is the global secure communication system I-24/7. Through it, national police forces gain access to Interpol’s databases and can send and receive requests.
The main tools of Interpol’s work are its famous notices — international alerts. The most well-known of them are:
- Red Notice: This is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and temporarily detain a person awaiting extradition, surrender, or a similar legal procedure. Important: this is not an international arrest warrant. Each country independently decides the legal weight to assign to a Red Notice within its territory.
- Blue Notice: A request for the collection of additional information about a person’s identity, location, or criminal activities.
- Green Notice: A warning about individuals who have committed crimes and pose a potential threat to public safety in other countries.
The Constitution of Interpol contains a fundamental restriction. Article 3 of the Statute explicitly prohibits the organization from interfering in or taking actions of a political, military, religious, or racial nature. As we will see later, it is precisely the adherence to this article that is the main subject of disputes regarding the UAE’s membership.
UAE membership in Interpol
For decades, the UAE’s participation in Interpol has been standard. Like other countries, Abu Dhabi operates a National Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol, which coordinates requests from the police of all seven emirates (including Dubai) and forwards them to Lyon or other member countries.
The situation began to change drastically in the 2010s when the UAE became one of the largest financial donors to the organization. In 2017, the UAE donated 50 million euros to the Interpol Fund for a Safer World. This donation was the second-largest contribution to the organization’s budget, second only to the USA.
Such generous funding has raised concerns among human rights organizations, such as Fair Trials, which warned about the risk of influence-buying and that financial dependence could make Interpol less inclined to scrutinize requests coming from such a major donor.
The Presidency of General Al-Raisi
The culmination of the UAE’s growing influence was an event that caused international resonance. In November 2021, at the General Assembly of Interpol in Istanbul, Major General Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi, Inspector General of the UAE Ministry of Interior, was elected president of the organization for a four-year term (until November 2025).
How Dubai and the UAE Use Interpol Tools in Practice
For most people, the interaction of the UAE with Interpol comes down to one practical issue: the use of red notices for financial and commercial matters.
The UAE (and especially Dubai, as the main international hub) has been building its reputation for decades on strict adherence to financial obligations. Until recently, even an unpaid bank check was a criminal offense in the UAE, leading to imprisonment.
This legal feature gave rise to the main mechanism of abuses:
- A bank, company, or individual in the UAE (for example, in Dubai) files a police report against a debtor (for instance, an expat who left the country, leaving behind debt on a credit card, car loan, or mortgage).
- The Dubai police, based on local legislation, classify this as a criminal offense (for example, fraud or abuse of trust).
Based on the initiated criminal case, the NCB in Abu Dhabi sends a request to Lyon for the issuance of a red notice by Interpol. - Interpol, seeing a request from an official state body with an arrest warrant, often publishes a notice without conducting a deep analysis of the essence of the dispute.
As a result, a person whose dispute in most countries of the world (for example, in Europe or the USA) would be considered exclusively civil (debt-related) ends up in an international wanted database as a criminal offender.
Decriminalization of checks 2022: What has changed?
In 2022, an important legal reform took place in the UAE (Federal Decree-Law No. 18 of 2022), which decriminalized most cases related to unpaid checks. This was positive news.
However, in practice, this did not stop the flow of red notifications regarding debts. Creditors (especially banks) quickly adapted. Instead of filing claims about an unpaid check, they now file claims under more serious articles, such as fraud or abuse of trust, arguing that the debtor initially took the loan without intending to repay it.
The police are still accepting these statements, and requests to Interpol continue to be sent. Thus, the fundamental risk remains.
What Does UAE Membership in Interpol Mean for Tourists and Residents?
The consequences of this system are tangible and real. They should be divided into several categories.
For tourists and transit passengers:
The highest risk is a transit arrest. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is one of the busiest in the world. Dubai police very effectively use Interpol databases.
A classic scenario: a person is flying from Asia to Europe with a layover in Dubai. During passport control in transit, their passport is scanned. The I-24/7 system instantly shows the presence of a red notice issued at the request of the UAE (due to an old debt) or even at the request of a third country (for example, Russia, Turkey, Qatar). The person is immediately detained.
Even if the case does not ultimately lead to extradition, the detention may last from several days to several months while lawyers and diplomats sort out the situation.
For residents and expats:
The main risk arises when attempting to leave the country or after departure. If a resident has an unresolved financial dispute and leaves the UAE, the creditor may initiate a criminal case and an Interpol request after their departure.
A person can live for years in their home country or travel around the world, not suspecting that they are on the red list. The problem will be discovered when attempting to cross any border, renew a visa, or even during a routine document check on the road in Europe.
For investors and businessmen:
The system of red notices in the UAE is sometimes used as a tool of pressure in commercial disputes. A competitor or former local partner may initiate a criminal case on charges of fraud to freeze the opponent’s assets or restrict their movement, thereby gaining an unfair advantage in negotiations.
Global Reach of Interpol: Who Participates and Who Doesn’t?
The participation of the UAE in Interpol is significant precisely because of the organization’s almost universal coverage. As of 2025, Interpol includes 196 member countries.
This is practically all the recognized states of the world. The list includes the USA, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, all EU countries, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, Turkey, the countries of Latin America and Africa. Even the Vatican and Palestine are members of the organization.
To better understand this coverage, it is easier to list those who are not part of Interpol.
The list of countries that are not members of Interpol is extremely short. As of 2025, it includes only a few states and territories, mainly due to their specific political status:
- North Korea (DPRK): Is in complete political isolation and does not participate in most international institutions.
- Taiwan (Republic of China): Was a member of Interpol but was excluded in 1984 when the People’s Republic of China (PRC) joined the organization, which blocks any participation of Taiwan based on the One China policy.
- Kosovo: Its application for membership has been repeatedly rejected (the last time in 2018) due to the lack of consensus among members regarding its state status.
- Some Pacific island nations (although most of them, including Palau, Tuvalu, and Kiribati, have already joined).
This almost complete global coverage means that a red notice initiated in Dubai will be visible to border guards in Berlin, police officers in Bangkok, and immigration officers in London.
How to Check Yourself in Interpol Databases and Protect Your Rights?
This question is one of the most difficult. Interpol is not a public registry.
Partial check: A small portion of red notices is public. They can be checked on the official Interpol website in the Wanted Persons section. However, most notices have a Restricted status and are visible only to law enforcement agencies through the I-24/7 system. You cannot simply call and ask if you are in the database.
Official way: The only legal way to know for sure is to submit an official Request for access to data to the independent supervisory body of Interpol — the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF).
CCF (Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files) is a body that reviews complaints and requests from private individuals.
If CCF confirms the presence of data about you, the next step will be submitting a Request for Deletion. This request must be legally motivated. The main arguments for deleting the notification, especially initiated by the UAE:
- Violation of Article 3: The case is not criminal but civil (debt) or commercial in nature.
- Violation of Article 2: Violation of fundamental human rights (for example, if the case is based on an unjust decision).
- The absence of double jeopardy: An act (for example, non-payment of debt) is not a crime in the country where the person is located.
- Procedural violations: The request was submitted incorrectly.
This is a complex and lengthy legal process that is almost impossible to go through without the help of lawyers specializing specifically in Interpol procedures and UAE law.
Protect Your Freedom of Movement with Us
Are you facing legal issues in the UAE? Do you have unsettled debts and fear the consequences? Do you suspect that a red notice from Interpol might have been issued against you? Don’t wait for the problem to surface at passport control. Delays could cost you your freedom, reputation, and business.
Our team of lawyers specializes in international law, Interpol procedures, and UAE legislation. Contact us today for a confidential consultation. Protect your right to free movement.
