Dubai fraud reports drop in 2026 as Police and 25 agencies unite against scams
Fraud reports in Dubai fell in 2026, with Dubai Police crediting coordinated efforts under its Be Aware of Fraud campaign involving over 25 government entities.
Dubai sees fewer fraud cases in 2026 as multi-agency anti-scam drive takes hold
Fraud reports in Dubai declined in 2026 compared with the previous year, gulfnews.com reports, with Dubai Police attributing the drop in part to a coordinated awareness campaign involving more than 25 government and semi-government entities.
The figures were disclosed at the Aware Family Anti-Fraud Forum, organised by the General Department of Criminal Investigation at the Dubai Police Officers Club. The event coincided with the Year of the Family and Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said tackling fraud required proactive policing, public awareness and stronger institutional partnerships. "Enhancing community security is a shared responsibility that requires institutions and individuals to work together to promote a culture of awareness and prevention. This enables all members of society to recognise fraudulent practices and respond appropriately," he said.
Al Marri added that the results of the campaign demonstrated the value of cooperation between government and semi-government entities in reaching wider sections of the public. Dubai Police would continue developing preventive initiatives to address emerging security threats, he said.
Dedicated Anti-Fraud Centre
Major General Hareb Mohammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for Criminal Affairs, said the force had established a dedicated Anti-Fraud Centre two years ago under directives from the Commander-in-Chief. The centre was created to address the growing complexity of fraud and to strengthen the force's capacity to detect, investigate and prevent offences.
Al Shamsi said the centre had improved the handling of fraud reports, analysis of criminal patterns, monitoring of suspicious activities and response efficiency, while also strengthening coordination with relevant authorities and strategic partners. "Combating fraud is no longer limited to traditional law enforcement measures. It requires an integrated approach that combines specialised policing, proactive prevention and public awareness," he said, describing an informed family as the first line of defence against attempted fraud.
Brigadier Saeed Al Hajri, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, said cooperation with government and semi-government entities had expanded the reach of the #BeAwareofFraud campaign. The initiative provides practical guidance on recognising scams, protecting personal and financial information and reporting suspicious activity through official channels.
Emerging cyber threats and common fraud methods
The forum featured specialised sessions on evolving fraud techniques and practical prevention measures. Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Al Shehhi, Director of the Cybercrime Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, outlined emerging cybercrime methods, risks linked to modern technologies and safe digital practices.
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Yamahi, Director of the Anti-Fraud Centre, discussed common fraud methods, warning signs and steps individuals can take to avoid becoming victims. He stressed that public awareness and prompt reporting were essential to both prevention and enforcement.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) also took part, with Omar Al Zaabi, Senior Manager of Cybersecurity, highlighting the importance of protecting digital systems, services and customers. Dr Jassim Bouasiba, Security Manager in the Cybersecurity Department at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, addressed institutional cooperation in strengthening cybersecurity awareness across society.
Senior officials and strategic partners attend forum
The forum drew a broad gathering of senior figures, including Lieutenant General Expert Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Civil Defence; Major General Khalifa Rashid Al Hamli, Director of the Office of His Highness the Minister of Defence; Omar Bu Shahab, Director General of Dubai Land Department; Dr Abdulla Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs; Mohammed Abdulla Lengawi, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; and Faisal bin Sulaitin, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Economic Security Centre.
Also in attendance were Maj Gen Al Shamsi and Dr Major General Ahmad Zaal bin Kreshan Almuhairi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for Financial and Administrative Affairs, alongside senior officers, government officials and strategic partners.
The forum concluded with Dubai Police honouring the government and semi-government entities and strategic partners that had supported the campaign and helped spread awareness messages. The force reaffirmed that informed families, institutional cooperation and proactive prevention remained central to protecting the community from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.
Source: Google News UAE — Dubai