Dubai: In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, has issued Law No. (17) of 2025 concerning the handling of lost and abandoned property in Dubai.
According to Emirates News Agency, the newly issued Law delineates "Lost Property" as money or movable items with legal ownership and value that are lost by their owner without any intention to relinquish them. It explicitly excludes stray animals. "Abandoned Property" pertains to money or movable items that are legally owned and valued, from which the owner or lawful possessor has either intentionally or implicitly renounced ownership, again excluding stray animals.
The Law empowers Dubai Police to receive reports of lost items, take possession of lost or abandoned property, and store such items safely while maintaining comprehensive records, including descriptions, dates, locations, and finder details. Dubai Police is mandated to establish an electronic system for recording lost and abandoned property, announcing found items when necessary, determining storage and announcement costs, and managing items in compliance with the Law.
The Law stipulates that any individual finding lost property, except public employees performing their official duties, must register it in Dubai Police's electronic system within 24 hours and surrender it within 48 hours. Usage, retention, or claiming of the property as personal is prohibited, and non-compliance may attract criminal penalties.
Finders are required to cooperate with Dubai Police, with properties being documented through an official receipt detailing its description, condition, finder's details, and other necessary information. The Law also outlines procedures for managing and reclaiming property.
Property owners have the right to reclaim their lost property before Dubai Police disposes of it or claim its value within three years if it has been sold. If the property has been disposed of without compensation, owners can recover it from the current possessor. In cases of multiple ownership claims, the property or its value is awarded to the individual confirmed by a final court ruling.
No claims can be made without valid reason beyond three years from when the property was announced as found. Owners must bear the costs of storage and announcement to reclaim the property or its value.
The Law allows Dubai Police to honor finders with a certificate of appreciation or a financial reward of 10 percent of the property's value, up to AED50,000, deducted after disposal, whether the owner claims it or not. The Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police will set conditions and procedures for such rewards.
Finders may request to retain the property if the owner has not claimed it within one year, subject to rules set by Dubai Police. If the owner later claims the property, it must be returned by the finder.
The Law requires all government and private entities to cooperate with Dubai Police, support their work under this Law, and register any found or abandoned property in the Police's electronic system, surrendering it within the prescribed deadlines.
Dubai Police has the authority to issue written warnings to violators of this Law or its decisions, demanding correction within a specified timeframe. Fines range from AED500 to AED100,000, with a possibility of doubling for repeated violations within a year, up to AED200,000.
The Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police is responsible for issuing decisions to enforce this Law, except those reserved for the Executive Council of Dubai, and will publish them in the Official Gazette.
This Law supersedes Law No. (5) of 2015 regarding the Disposal of Lost and Abandoned Property and annuls any conflicting provisions in other legislation. Regulations and decisions under Law No. (5) of 2015 remain effective unless they conflict with the new Law until new regulations and decisions are implemented.
The Law takes effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette.