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Someone Has Filed a Police Complaint Against Me

“Someone filed a police complaint against me”

A police complaint is the report that can open a criminal investigation into you, and it does not by itself mean you have been charged with anything.

Finding out that a complaint has been filed against you is unsettling, especially if you don't know exactly what it says. This page explains how the process generally works from here, so you know what to expect. LEXNOVA Legal Connect can help you describe your situation and find a criminal lawyer to advise you directly.

LAST REVIEWED 21 SEPTEMBER 2026

WHERE THIS IS HANDLED

Police station, then the Public Prosecution, then the criminal court, if the complaint results in a referral.

How the answer changes by jurisdiction

  • Dubai mainland

    A complaint is logged with Dubai Police, who investigate before referring the file, if warranted, to Dubai's Public Prosecution.

  • DIFC

    DIFC has no police or criminal court of its own. A complaint connected to DIFC is investigated by Dubai Police and, if it proceeds, handled by Dubai's Public Prosecution and Dubai Courts.

  • Abu Dhabi mainland

    A complaint is logged with Abu Dhabi Police, who investigate before referring the file, if warranted, to Abu Dhabi's Public Prosecution.

  • ADGM

    ADGM has no police or criminal jurisdiction. A complaint connected to ADGM is investigated by Abu Dhabi Police and, if it proceeds, handled by Abu Dhabi's Public Prosecution and courts.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT

STEP 01

Finding out what the complaint says

You may find out about a complaint through a police summons, a phone call, or a travel ban appearing when you try to leave the country. Try to establish, calmly, exactly what you're being accused of and by whom.

Don't ignore a summons. Not responding tends to make things worse, not better, and can itself create legal exposure.

STEP 02

Not every complaint is the same kind of case

Complaints cover a wide range — from disputes that are essentially civil in nature but get filed as police matters, to allegations of a genuinely criminal act. The right response depends heavily on which kind you're facing.

One example people often ask about: bounced cheques. Reforms narrowed the circumstances in which a bounced cheque leads to criminal liability, but cheques have not been fully decriminalised in the UAE — certain situations can still result in a criminal complaint. Whether yours is one of them needs a proper look by a lawyer.

STEP 03

Responding to a summons

If you're asked to attend a police station, it's generally better to go prepared than to avoid it. Bring any documents relevant to the dispute — contracts, messages, receipts, anything that supports your account.

Getting legal advice before you attend, even briefly, can help you understand what you're walking into and what to say.

STEP 04

Watch for a travel ban

A complaint can lead to a travel ban being placed on you, sometimes before you're even aware a case has been opened. If you're planning to travel, it's worth checking your status rather than being caught out at the airport.

STEP 05

Whether the matter can be resolved directly

In some kinds of cases, reaching an agreement directly with the other party — repayment, a retraction, a settlement — can lead to the complaint being withdrawn. This isn't available for every offence, and it needs to be handled properly and usually in writing, ideally with legal involvement.

STEP 06

If the case proceeds

If the Public Prosecution decides to refer the matter, it moves to court and becomes a formal criminal case. From this point, having a defence lawyer actively involved matters a great deal.

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FAQ

Sometimes through a direct summons, sometimes only when you try to travel and discover a ban. If you suspect a complaint exists, a lawyer can help you check your status.

Generally yes. Ignoring a summons rarely helps and can create further problems. It's better to attend, ideally after getting advice first.

Sometimes the summons itself gives limited detail. A lawyer may be able to help you understand more about the nature of the complaint before you attend.

No. A complaint opens an investigation. Many complaints don't lead to charges at all — it depends on what the police and prosecution find.

Reforms have narrowed when a bounced cheque leads to criminal liability, but it hasn't been fully decriminalised — some circumstances can still result in a case. A lawyer can tell you where yours falls.

The path is the same: the police of the emirate investigate, the Public Prosecution decides whether to charge, and a charged case goes to the criminal court. What changes is the evidence. Investigators look at the content, screenshots, account and platform data and possibly your devices, so don't delete or edit anything before taking advice. Common allegations include insulting or defaming someone online (see LEXNOVA's page I'm Accused of Insulting Someone Online), publishing private information or images, which can be an offence even if true, online threats, and fraud in an online transaction. On conviction the court can order confiscation of the devices used and deletion of the data. The cybercrime law has no deportation article of its own, but a foreign national sentenced to imprisonment can face deportation under the general Penal Code rule, which makes it mandatory for felonies, subject to a narrow family-based exception.

In some types of cases, yes, and that can lead to the matter being closed. This isn't possible for every kind of offence, and needs to be done through the right formal channel.

You're entitled to respond and present your side, including evidence. This is exactly the kind of situation where having a lawyer represent your account matters.

Not necessarily. Depending on the type and seriousness of the complaint, you may simply be asked to attend for questioning rather than being detained.

Yes, this can happen, and people sometimes only discover it at the airport. If you're worried, it's worth checking your status rather than assuming you're free to travel.

Any documents relevant to the dispute — contracts, correspondence, payment records — and, ideally, advice from a lawyer beforehand on what to expect.

You can try, but it's risky to do this without legal guidance, especially around what you agree to in writing. A lawyer can help make sure any settlement actually resolves your legal exposure.

The investigation is likely to proceed without your side of the story being heard, which generally isn't to your advantage.

It can, particularly if the matter proceeds and results in a travel ban or a criminal case. A lawyer can advise on the specific risk to your status.

A police complaint sits within the criminal system and can involve the state investigating and potentially prosecuting you. A civil claim is a private dispute between parties over money or an obligation, heard in a different part of the court system.

No — LEXNOVA is not a law firm and doesn't assess or predict case outcomes. LEXNOVA Legal Connect can help you describe your situation and find a lawyer who can properly evaluate it.

LEXNOVA is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal opinions, legal representation, or legal services. Any legal advice or representation is provided directly by the independent legal professional engaged by the client.

A connection or introduction does not constitute a guarantee, endorsement, or assurance of outcome. Users should independently confirm the professional's qualifications, authorization, fees, scope of engagement, and suitability.

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