Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved Law No. 17 of 2025, which regulates the handling of lost and abandoned property in the emirate. The document, presented on Tuesday, 25 November, simplifies lost-and-found procedures, introduces a system of financial incentives for honest finders, and tightens penalties for violations. Fines range from AED 500 to AED 100,000, doubling for repeat offences within a year to a maximum of AED 200,000.
Dubai Police plays a central role in the system, accepting, safeguarding, and investigating cases of found items. The police are required to create an electronic system to record all details — object descriptions, the date and place of finding, and information about the finder. Authorities also determine storage costs, manage public announcements and control the property’s path from submission to return to the owner or disposal. The law clearly distinguishes between lost and abandoned property. Lost property refers to money or movable items of legal value that the owner unintentionally misplaced without intending to discard them. Abandoned property describes items the owner deliberately or implicitly gave up. Stray animals are excluded from both categories and are regulated separately.
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Finders now face strict deadlines and the possibility of keeping the item
People who discover lost property must now follow strict timelines and receive specific rights when procedures are met:
- Registration of the found item in the police electronic system is required within 24 hours of discovery
- Physical handover to Dubai Police must take place within 48 hours
- Using, keeping or claiming ownership of the found item is strictly prohibited and may result in criminal charges
- The finder may request transfer of the item into personal ownership if the rightful owner does not appear within one year of registration, subject to police rules and guarantees
- If a lawful owner appears later with valid proof, the item must be returned
Owners retain the protected right to recover the lost item until it is disposed of or transferred to third parties. The law grants three years to claim the value of the item if the authorities sold it at auction or by other means. In disputes involving multiple claimants, the item or its monetary equivalent is handed to the person whose rights are confirmed by a final court ruling. The owner must compensate for storage and announcement costs to retrieve the item. For those following Dubai property market latest news, the new law reflects the ongoing refinement of the emirate’s legal framework and its commitment to creating a highly transparent environment for residents and businesses — a factor that indirectly strengthens Dubai’s appeal among foreign real estate buyers. The reward system is designed to encourage honesty. Eligible individuals may receive either a recognition certificate for moral appreciation or a financial reward of up to 10 percent of the item’s assessed value, capped at AED 50,000.
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The calculation considers the value of the item, the circumstances of discovery and the promptness of the finder. Understanding the nuances of home loans for non UAE residents becomes increasingly crucial for foreign buyers who value legal certainty and precise regulation of all aspects of life in the emirate — something the new lost-property law further reinforces through detailed procedures and a balanced distribution of rights among all parties involved. The new law replaces the outdated Law No. 5 of 2015 on the disposal of lost and abandoned property, nullifying conflicting provisions in other legislative acts. Regulations and decisions from the previous law remain in force temporarily until updated guidelines are issued, provided they do not contradict the new norms. The document enters into force on the day of publication in the Official Gazette, which usually occurs within a week of the ruler’s signature.
