HomeInterpol Orange Notice in Dubai
The safety of citizens and guests is an absolute priority for the United Arab Emirates. Dubai, as one of the key global centers of tourism, finance, and transportation, requires the highest level of protection from any external and internal threats. Within the framework of international police cooperation, the Orange Notice system of Interpol plays a critically important role.
This notice represents a global warning about an event, person, object, or process that poses a serious and imminent threat to public safety. Unlike a red notice, which deals with criminals who have already committed a crime, an orange notice is a preventive tool. It is designed to prevent acts that could lead to mass casualties, destruction, or serious disruptions of public order. The Dubai Police and federal security services of the UAE use these alerts for immediate response and neutralization of potential danger.
What is an orange notice from Interpol?
An Orange Notice is a special type of international alert issued by the General Secretariat of INTERPOL at the request of a member country. This tool was created in 2004 to fill a gap in the alert system. Previously existing notices (Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, Green, and Purple) were unable to promptly convey information about an immediate and serious threat requiring urgent security measures.
The main difference of the orange notice is its focus on the threat, rather than the perpetrator. A notice can be issued regarding a specific person posing a threat (for example, a suspected suicide bomber whose identity is known but whose plans have not yet been carried out), as well as regarding an object (for example, a new type of explosive device) or a process (for example, the spread of an extremely dangerous toxic substance).
Goals and objectives of notice in Dubai
For the UAE, a country included in the list of the safest in the world, preventive measures are crucial. The goals pursued by the orange notice in the context of Dubai cover several areas of security.
Immediate warning about terrorist attacks: The alert allows Dubai police and special services to quickly enhance control at critical facilities, including airports, metro, major shopping centers, and tourist areas (e.g., Burj Khalifa).
Protection of critical infrastructure: The notice may concern the threat of cyberattacks aimed at disabling water supply systems, power grids, or financial platforms, which are the foundation of Dubai’s functioning as an international hub.
Identification of dangerous objects: If a new type of explosive device or a booby-trapped postal package is discovered in one of the countries, an orange notice is immediately sent out to warn the UAE security services about the need to search for exactly such an object.
Types of threats in Dubai
The UAE is actively working with international partners to combat threats that may have a transboundary nature. Orange notices can cover a wide range of potential dangers requiring prompt attention from the UAE police and border services.
notices may be initiated in connection with the following types of threats:
- Radical extremism and terrorism: Warnings about the alleged movement of individuals associated with terrorist groups planning attacks in regional hubs, including Dubai.
- Chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threat (CBRN): Warnings about leakage or attempts to smuggle dangerous materials that could be used to create dirty bombs or spread toxic substances.
- New types of explosive devices: Information about new, hard-to-detect types of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including their design and concealment methods.
- Large-scale cyber threats: Although Interpol has a purple notice for sharing information about the modus operandi of cybercriminals, an orange notice can be issued if it concerns an imminent and massive attack on national systems that could lead to a collapse.
What information does the UAE police receive?
The National Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol in Abu Dhabi, which serves as a liaison with the Dubai police, receives the most detailed information necessary for prompt action.
The information transmitted within the framework of the orange notice has a clear structure focused on law enforcement actions. It allows UAE authorities to immediately begin searching and neutralizing the threat. This information includes:
- Threat description: Detailed data on the nature of the danger (for example, type of explosive substance, type of chemical agent, delivery method).
- Identification data (if applicable): Photographs, physical characteristics, citizenship, known travel routes of individuals who may be associated with the threat.
- Precautionary measures: Specific recommendations for law enforcement agencies (e.g., protocols for safe handling of the object, evacuation procedures, medical antidotes).
- Possible placement locations: Indications of potential targets or regions where the threat may be implemented.
Upon receiving this notice, the Dubai police immediately initiated an internal operation. Patrols are intensified, border control is activated to check all arrivals according to the parameters of the notice, and specialized units such as explosive ordnance disposal or counter-terrorism groups are put on alert.
Is the list of Orange Notices public?
The Orange Notice by its purpose is a confidential document. It is not published in open access, as sometimes happens with Red or Yellow notices.
The reason for this is the nature of the information. Disclosure of information about an imminent threat may have two negative consequences:
- Obstruct the investigation: The publication will warn the guilty parties, giving them time to change plans or go into hiding.
- Cause panic: Disclosure of data about a supposed security threat or terrorism could provoke mass panic among the population and tourists, which in itself would harm Dubai.
Consequently, this notice circulates exclusively between the National Central Bureaus of Interpol and the relevant security services of member countries. Citizens and residents of Dubai may not be aware of the existence of a specific orange notice, but they may observe heightened security measures that are its direct consequence.
Assistance of lawyers through Interpol in Dubai
Since the orange notice almost always concerns objects or anonymous threats, it rarely affects law-abiding citizens or businesses directly, unlike the red or blue. However, indirect legal consequences may arise.
Situations where legal support may be required:
- Unlawful identification: In rare cases, when a person or object has been mistakenly identified as a source of threat and faces detention in Dubai, immediate legal intervention is required.
- Freezing of commercial operations: If the orange notice concerns a financial fraud scheme or smuggling affecting your business (e.g., freezing of a batch of goods or an account), legal contestation of these measures is necessary.
- Intersection with other notices: Sometimes an orange notice is accompanied by a red one regarding a specific individual who is already wanted. In this case, protection from extradition is required.
Our law firm in Dubai specializes in international law and interaction with UAE law enforcement agencies regarding Interpol. We provide confidential and prompt protection of client rights. We are ready to analyze your situation, assess possible risks associated with any Interpol notices, and prepare the necessary documents for interaction with the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF).
Do not leave your safety and freedom to chance. If you have questions about the impact of international police requests on your stay or activities in Dubai, contact us for a consultation. We will provide a legal strategy based on knowledge of local and international law.
FAQ
What does an Interpol Orange Notice mean in Dubai?
An Interpol Orange Notice is a serious global alert warning of an imminent threat. In Dubai and the UAE, this notice is issued to warn police, public bodies, and international organizations about potential dangers from hidden weapons, explosive devices (IEDs), parcel bombs, or other dangerous materials and processes. It is a preventive measure to protect public safety from acts of terrorism or other serious crimes. UAE authorities take these alerts extremely seriously to maintain the high level of security Dubai is known for, implementing heightened checks and protective protocols immediately.
Who is targeted by an Interpol Orange Notice in the UAE?
An Interpol Orange Notice does not target a person for arrest; it warns about a threat. This threat could be a specific object (like an explosive), a substance (like a chemical agent), or a process (like a new method for committing a terrorist act). It is issued when there is intelligence pointing to a serious and imminent danger to public safety. For authorities in the UAE, this notice is a critical piece of intelligence used to preemptively secure public spaces, transportation hubs, and major events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi against potential attacks.
