Find a Criminal Lawyer

I’ve been accused of a crime and need to understand my situation.

I’ve been called in for questioning and I’m not sure what to expect.

I want to file a criminal complaint against someone else.

A family member or friend has been detained and I need to understand the process.

If any of this sounds familiar, tell us what happened, acting promptly with the right guidance matters significantly in criminal matters.

Criminal law addresses offenses against the state or public order, distinct from civil disputes between private parties, and can involve serious consequences including fines, imprisonment, or other penalties.

In the UAE, criminal matters range from minor infractions to serious offenses, each governed by specific legal procedures and potential consequences under UAE federal law.

Criminal defense lawyers specialize specifically in representing individuals accused of offenses, understanding both the legal procedures involved and how to protect a client's rights throughout the process.

If you're facing a criminal matter, understanding that you have the right to legal representation is an important first step, regardless of the nature of the allegation.

You need a criminal lawyer immediately if you've been arrested or are being questioned in connection with a criminal investigation.

If you've received a summons or notice to appear before criminal authorities, legal representation before that appearance is strongly advisable.

You may also need a criminal lawyer if you're a victim of a crime and need guidance navigating the criminal justice process from that perspective.

Even if you believe an accusation against you is unfounded, having legal representation early protects your rights and helps ensure the matter is handled properly.

Traffic-related criminal offenses, which can carry more serious consequences in the UAE than in some other jurisdictions.

Financial and white-collar offenses, including matters related to bounced checks, fraud allegations, or financial disputes that have escalated to criminal proceedings.

Assault and personal conduct matters, involving allegations of physical altercations or public order offenses.

Drug-related offenses, which carry particularly serious consequences under UAE law and require experienced legal representation.

Cybercrime and online conduct offenses, an increasingly relevant area given the UAE's specific regulations around online behavior.

LEXNOVA is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Legal Connect exists to help you describe your situation clearly, then explore potentially suitable legal professionals from our network.

Given the urgency often involved in criminal matters, we prioritize requests marked as urgent and work to identify potentially suitable professionals as quickly as possible.

Every potential match involves human review before an introduction, and we take particular care with criminal matters given what's often at stake.

Once we identify a potential match, we help facilitate an introduction, and the lawyer discusses your situation and represents your interests directly from that point.

The process starts with a short guided form asking about the nature of your situation, your location, and, critically for criminal matters, how urgent your need for representation is.

Given the sensitivity of criminal matters, we ask that you share only general context at this stage, detailed specifics are best discussed directly and confidentially with the lawyer.

After submission, our team reviews your request promptly, particularly for urgent matters, and considers lawyers whose criminal defense experience aligns with your situation.

If your matter requires immediate representation beyond what our standard process can support quickly enough, we encourage seeking immediate legal assistance through any available means.

UAE criminal law is governed by federal legislation, with specific procedures for arrest, detention, questioning, and trial that differ in some respects from other legal systems.

Understanding your rights during police questioning, including your right to legal representation, is important from the earliest stages of any criminal matter.

Some conduct that might not be criminal in other countries can carry criminal consequences under UAE law, making local legal guidance particularly important for residents and visitors alike.

If you're unfamiliar with UAE criminal procedure, a lawyer can explain the specific process relevant to your situation from the outset.

You generally have the right to know the reason for your arrest or questioning, and to request legal representation before answering substantive questions.

It's generally advisable to request legal representation before making any formal statements, even if you believe you have nothing to hide.

A criminal lawyer can advise you on how to appropriately exercise your rights during this process while cooperating appropriately with authorities.

If you or someone you know has been arrested, seeking legal representation as quickly as possible is strongly advisable.

Larger firms may offer broader resources for complex criminal matters, particularly those involving significant financial or white-collar allegations.

Independent criminal defense lawyers can offer more direct, personal, and often more immediately available attention, valuable given the urgency criminal matters often involve.

Given the personal stakes involved, finding a lawyer you trust and communicate well with matters significantly, regardless of firm size.

Have they handled matters similar to yours, and what is their general approach to defense in this type of case?

What is their honest assessment of your situation, including realistic potential outcomes?

How quickly can they be available given the urgency of your matter?

What is their fee structure, particularly important to understand clearly given the potentially significant stakes involved?

Criminal defense fees vary based on the severity and complexity of the charges, as well as whether the matter proceeds to trial or resolves earlier in the process.

LEXNOVA does not set or control fees, this is communicated directly by each professional, and it's important to understand costs clearly given what's often at stake.

Given the urgency often involved, it's still worth asking for a clear fee understanding even when time feels limited.

Criminal matters typically proceed through investigation, potential charges, and, if the matter proceeds, trial before the relevant criminal court.

Many matters resolve at earlier stages through various procedural mechanisms, not every case proceeds to a full trial.

Your lawyer's role includes advising you throughout each stage, representing your interests, and ensuring your rights are protected throughout the process.

A lawyer can give you a more specific sense of the likely process and timeline once they understand the details of your particular situation.

If time allows, having a clear, honest account of the situation ready helps your lawyer understand your circumstances quickly.

Any documentation related to the matter, arrest records, notices, correspondence, should be shared with your lawyer as soon as possible.

Being completely honest with your lawyer, even about difficult details, is essential, since they can only effectively represent you with full information.

When describing your needs through Legal Connect, we ask that you share only general context at the initial request stage.

Once introduced to a lawyer, attorney-client privilege protects the confidentiality of your communications as part of your professional relationship.

This confidentiality is a fundamental protection that allows you to be fully honest with your lawyer about your situation.

Arrest: the formal taking into custody of a person suspected of a criminal offense.

Detention: being held in custody, which is subject to specific legal time limits and procedures.

Charge: the formal accusation of a specific criminal offense against a person.

Bail: a mechanism allowing release from custody pending further proceedings, subject to certain conditions.

Acquittal: a formal finding of not guilty, resulting in the dismissal of charges.

We only introduce professionals who have joined our network and been verified for matching; we never invent a professional or their experience.

Every potential introduction involves human review, and we prioritize urgent criminal matters given what's often at stake.

We're transparent that LEXNOVA is not a law firm and does not guarantee outcomes, we help facilitate a potentially suitable introduction, and the legal relationship is between you and the professional.

Request legal representation as early as possible in the process, this is a right you're generally entitled to exercise.

Avoid making detailed statements before consulting with a lawyer, even if you believe explaining your side would help.

Contact trusted family or friends who can help arrange legal representation if you're unable to do so directly.

Remain calm and cooperative with authorities while still exercising your right to legal representation.

Both UAE residents and visitors are subject to UAE criminal law while in the country, and unfamiliarity with local law isn't generally a defense to a criminal charge.

Visitors facing criminal matters may have additional practical considerations, including travel restrictions during proceedings, worth discussing directly with a lawyer.

If you're a visitor facing a criminal matter, sharing this context helps us consider lawyers experienced in supporting clients in this specific situation.

Drug offences are governed by a single federal law, Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021 on Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, in force since January 2022 and amended since, including by a federal decree-law issued in 2025. It replaced Federal Law No. 14 of 1995, which some pages online still quote as if it were current. The offences are the same in every emirate, and a case is generally handled by the police and Public Prosecution where the arrest or alleged offence took place, such as Dubai Police and the Dubai Public Prosecution, or Abu Dhabi Police and the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution. DIFC and ADGM have no police force and no criminal court, so a drug matter connected to either is handled by the Dubai or Abu Dhabi authorities.

The law does not treat every drug case alike. Personal use, and possession for personal use, form one family of offences, dealt with differently from possession or dealing with intent to promote or traffic, and from bringing drugs into the country; promotion and trafficking are the most serious category, with very heavy custodial penalties. Quantity, intent and circumstances decide which category a case falls into. For a first personal-use offence the law allows a fine instead of imprisonment, and penalties rise for repeat offences within three years. In some personal-use cases treatment can take the place of prosecution or of the penalty: for someone who comes forward before any arrest order, on referral by the Attorney General, or by order of the court. None of these routes is automatic.

Many cases begin with a test, a trace or a medicine rather than a seizure. The law sets no minimum 'traces' threshold and does not say that a positive test is in itself proof of use, so whether a test result or residue supports a charge depends on the evidence and the laboratory findings, which a defence lawyer can examine. Refusing without justification to give a sample the Public Prosecution has authorised is a separate offence, punished more heavily than a first personal-use offence. Using a controlled medicine within a prescription is not the offence; unauthorised use, or doses above the prescription, can be. LEXNOVA's page on being arrested or charged over drugs covers each of these situations step by step.

For foreign nationals, a conviction for any drug-law offence, including personal use, now leads the court to order deportation, subject to two narrow family-based exceptions; LEXNOVA's guide Judicial vs. Administrative Deportation in the UAE explains how court-ordered deportation differs from an administrative decision. Non-resident visitors arrested on entry with a listed substance for personal use, within the limits of Cabinet Resolution No. 43 of 2024, face a separate regime: a first seizure means a fine, after which entry is allowed; a second brings deportation and a three-year entry ban, a third a permanent ban, and for some substances deportation and a permanent ban follow at once. Speed matters in every case. A family member, in the UAE or abroad, can describe the situation to Legal Connect, the lawyer acts at the police station and Public Prosecution where the case is being handled, and the request can be flagged as urgent.

Extradition from the UAE is governed by Federal Law No. 39 of 2006 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters, as amended, together with the treaties the UAE is party to. Where a treaty applies it takes precedence; where none does, the UAE can still cooperate with another country on the basis of reciprocity. Requests pass through the Ministry of Justice's central authority to the competent Public Prosecution. The law also sets conditions before anyone can be surrendered: the conduct must be a crime of some seriousness in both the requesting country and the UAE, and a person already sentenced must have a minimum part of the sentence left to serve.

When another country is seeking someone who is in the UAE, the Attorney General can order that person held for a limited period set by law on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by a foreign judicial authority, while the formal extradition request is sent; release with guarantees is possible during that period. The request is then heard by the competent Court of Appeal in a closed session, with the person sought and their lawyer present. The court decides whether surrender is legally possible, that decision can be challenged before a higher court within a short, fixed period, and a decision allowing surrender is carried out only with the Minister of Justice's approval.

The law bars extradition in listed cases. They include a person who is a UAE national; an offence the UAE courts themselves have jurisdiction over; a political offence, a category that excludes terrorism and certain other grave crimes; a military offence; a request aimed at punishing someone for their race, religion, nationality or political opinion; an offence already under investigation, prosecution or final judgment in the UAE, or one for which the person has been tried and has served the sentence; a prosecution or penalty that is time-barred; and a risk of torture or inhuman treatment, or of a trial without minimum guarantees. A person can also consent to surrender, which has legal consequences, so that is exactly the moment to speak to a lawyer first.

What people call an 'international arrest warrant' is often an Interpol Red Notice or a diffusion. A Red Notice is Interpol's request to police worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or similar action; in Interpol's own words it is not an arrest warrant, and Interpol cannot compel any country to arrest. A diffusion is a request sent directly from one country's Interpol bureau to others. Either can be challenged before the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files, an independent body; requests are free and, since 26 March 2026, must be filed through its online portal. Notices can also run the other way, when the UAE seeks someone over a case left behind here. LEXNOVA's page on Interpol Red Notices covers each situation, and a family member can describe the matter to Legal Connect and flag it as urgent.

That hiring a lawyer implies guilt, in reality, legal representation is a fundamental right regardless of whether allegations are true or false.

That minor charges don't need legal representation, even seemingly minor matters can carry consequences worth taking seriously with proper legal guidance.

That cooperating fully without legal advice is always the best approach, a lawyer helps ensure your cooperation doesn't inadvertently harm your position.

Simpler matters may resolve relatively quickly, particularly if they're addressed at an early procedural stage.

More serious or complex matters, particularly those proceeding to full trial, can take considerably longer to resolve.

A lawyer familiar with the specific type of charge can give you a more realistic sense of the likely timeline for your situation.

When a loved one faces a criminal matter, family members often want to help but may be uncertain how best to do so.

Helping arrange legal representation promptly and providing emotional support are often the most valuable things family members can offer during this difficult time.

Criminal matters carry genuine stakes, and having experienced, trustworthy legal representation as early as possible in the process matters significantly.

LEXNOVA Legal Connect exists to help you take this step quickly, describing your situation and exploring potentially suitable professionals from our network.

The legal relationship itself remains directly between you and the professional you're introduced to, our role is to help you access that representation with genuine urgency and care.