One of the most common triggers of wrongful criminal allegations in the UAE is not fraud, theft, or embezzlement, it is simply an employment dispute. Foreign professionals who work hard for years in Dubai often find that when it comes time to collect their end-of-service benefit, suddenly accusations appear, designed to deny them what they are legally owed.
This was the case for one British national who spent years overseeing major projects in Dubai. His role was purely technical: ensuring that projects were delivered on time and to the required standard. He was not responsible for contracts, payments, or finances. But when he resigned and became entitled to a substantial end-of-service payment, he was blindsided with allegations of “abuse of power” and threats of criminal cases.
The accusations centred on subcontractor invoices, yet he had never controlled budgets, signed contracts, or handled company money. All payments went directly from the finance department to subcontractors. His only responsibility was to confirm whether the work had been completed. Still, he was suddenly questioned about missing paperwork, duplicate invoices, and supposed financial impropriety.
The reality was simpler: his employer did not want to pay him his end-of-service entitlement. Instead of resolving the matter through the proper civil or employment channels, they attempted to reframe it as a criminal case. Local lawyers even advised him to leave the country for his own safety while they “handled” the issue, but no evidence of wrongdoing was ever produced.
Years later, there remains a risk that the UAE could escalate this baseless employment dispute into an INTERPOL Red Notice request. Such a move would be profoundly abusive: INTERPOL’s own rules forbid its systems from being used to enforce civil or contractual claims. Yet countless professionals remain trapped, unable to travel internationally for fear of wrongful arrest.
“We continue to see cases where employment disputes are criminalised in order to pressure or punish expatriates,” said Interpol expert Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International. “End-of-service benefits are a frequent flashpoint. Instead of paying what is owed, companies resort to false allegations. It’s an abuse of the UAE’s criminal justice system, and when escalated to INTERPOL, it becomes an abuse of international law.”
For this British national, the impact has been devastating. He has avoided all international travel since leaving the UAE, unable to visit family abroad or even take a holiday with his wife and children. His professional reputation remains overshadowed by the risk of a Red Notice, despite the absence of any evidence of criminality.
This case is just one example of how the misuse of criminal complaints in Dubai, particularly around end-of-service leave, can have lasting consequences far beyond the UAE’s borders. It underscores why prevention applications with INTERPOL are so vital for professionals who have faced such disputes.
“We are seeing more and more professionals taking preventative action before a Red Notice is issued,” said Radha Stirling. “By filing confidential applications in advance, we can ensure that INTERPOL is alerted to the abusive nature of the case and block it from ever appearing on the system. Prevention affords clients peace of mind and protects their freedom of movement.”
If you believe you could be at risk of an INTERPOL Notice arising from an employment or financial dispute in the UAE, it is vital to act early. Confidential prevention requests are often the difference between safe international travel and being wrongfully detained abroad.
