His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued Law No. (17) of 2025 regulating lost and abandoned property in Dubai.
The law defines lost property as money or movable items of legal ownership and value, lost unintentionally, while abandoned property refers to items deliberately or implicitly relinquished by their owner. Stray animals are excluded.
Dubai Police are tasked with receiving reports, taking possession of items, storing them securely, maintaining records, and managing them through an electronic system that records, announces, and tracks lost or abandoned property.
Finders’ obligations include registering items in the police system within 24 hours and handing them over within 48 hours. They may not use, keep, or claim the property, with non-compliance carrying criminal penalties. Items are documented with descriptions, condition, finder’s details, and date and place found.
Property reclamation allows owners to reclaim lost items before disposal or claim their value within three years. Disputes between claimants are resolved through final court rulings. Owners cover storage and announcement costs.
Finders may receive a certificate or 10% of the property’s value, up to Dh50,000. Unclaimed property may be requested after one year, subject to police rules, but must be returned if claimed later.
All entities must cooperate with Dubai Police, with violations attracting fines from Dh500 to Dh100,000, doubling for repeated offenses within a year.
Law No. (17) of 2025 replaces Law No. (5) of 2015 and is effective from publication in the Official Gazette.
