Dubai’s new lost property law lets finders earn up to AED50K for reporting found items, with strict rules and deadlines for compliance.

DUBAI: If you find something valuable in Dubai, honesty might just pay off, literally. A new law issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, outlines strict but rewarding rules for handling lost and abandoned property.

Under Law No. (17) of 2025, Dubai Police are tasked with managing lost property, from taking possession to creating a digital system for registration, storage, and announcements. The law defines “lost property” as any item of value unintentionally dropped or misplaced, while “abandoned property” refers to items the owner clearly gave up.

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Finders must report items via the Dubai Police electronic system within 24 hours and hand them over within 48 hours. Public employees on duty are exempt, but everyone else faces criminal penalties if they fail to comply. Claiming or using the property is strictly prohibited.

The law rewards finders who do the right thing. If no one claims the item within a year, the finder may request to keep it. Even if the owner comes forward, the finder could still receive 10 percent of its value, up to AED50,000, whether the item is returned or not.

Owners can reclaim their property before it is disposed of or claim its value up to three years after it’s found. If ownership is disputed, the item is awarded based on a final court ruling. Fines for non-compliance start at AED500 and go up to AED100,000, doubling for repeat violations.

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Dubai Police may also issue written warnings and require violators to rectify issues within a given time. All government and private entities must cooperate and register found items using the new system.

The law repeals the previous Law No. (5) of 2015, and any conflicting regulations, with immediate effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.

SUMMARY

What It Covers: Handling of lost and abandoned property across Dubai, including definitions, finder duties, owner rights, and penalties.

Finder Duties:

  • Must register found items in Dubai Police system within 24 hours.
  • Must hand over the item within 48 hours.
  • Use or keeping of the item is prohibited; violators face criminal penalties.

Rewards for Honesty:

  • Finders may get 10% of the item’s value, up to AED50,000.
  • Reward applies whether or not the owner claims the item.
  • Finders may request to keep unclaimed items after 1 year.

Owner Rights:

  • Owners can reclaim items or value within 3 years of announcement.
  • Disputed ownership resolved by final court ruling.

Penalties:

  • Fines range from AED500 to AED100,000, double on repeat offences (up to AED200,000).
  • Dubai Police may issue written warnings and corrective deadlines.

Who Must Comply: All government and private entities are required to cooperate and use the new Dubai Police electronic system.