Interpol, Extradition & International Warrants
An Interpol Red Notice does not mean automatic arrest — but in the UAE, it can mean detention at the airport, a travel ban, and the start of extradition proceedings within hours. We advise and defend individuals and businesses facing international warrants, Interpol notices, and extradition requests — and we step in before the legal position hardens.
International warrant in the UAE: how the system works
Interpol does not arrest and does not extradite, it transmits information. The decision to detain and extradite is made by UAE courts and authorities based on federal legislation. Behind this stands a specific legal process — and it can be challenged.
Extradition is possible only if three conditions are met: the act is a crime in both countries, the punishment exceeds the established minimum, and the procedure meets legal standards. The request passes through the Ministry of Justice and the court. The decision is subject to appeal.
We get involved before the arrest and before a formal request, while the outcome of the case can still be changed. We challenge detentions, object to extradition, and seek the removal of notifications through the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF).
The UAE has entered into extradition treaties with more than 50 countries and actively participates in international criminal cooperation. A Red Notice from any Interpol member country is visible to border services and can lead to detention upon entry.
At the same time, the UAE adheres to its own procedural standards. Extradition may be refused if the act is not a crime under local law, there is a risk of political persecution or torture, the person has already been convicted or acquitted for the same act, or the request does not meet legal requirements.
None of these grounds apply automatically. Each must be argued, confirmed documentarily, and presented before the court. A defense strategy must be built from day one — before the investigation forms its own version of events.
Red Notice: what it is
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies in other countries to provisionally arrest a person pending an extradition decision. It is not an international arrest warrant. In the UAE, it does not entail automatic legal consequences; the extradition decision is still made by a court.
In practice, this means your name is flagged at every border point. Upon entering the UAE, there is detention at the airport and a travel ban during the proceedings. Time works against you: the longer the challenge is delayed, the harder it is to change the situation.
The notice can be challenged directly at Interpol through the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF) if it violates the organization's rules, was filed for political, military, religious, or racial reasons, or if the charges do not meet established standards.
We assess the legality of the notice, prepare an application to the CCF if grounds exist, and simultaneously build a defense in the UAE courts.
Calm strategy. Precise execution.
Connected areas of expertise
High-stakes matters rarely sit inside a single legal box. The strongest strategy usually comes from seeing the whole conflict map.
International warrants and extradition require immediate action.
Reach out directly to a senior lawyer. In extradition matters, the earlier we are involved, the more options remain available. All enquiries are handled in strict confidence.
What matters before the first consultation
What is an Interpol Red Notice and how does it differ from extradition?+
A Red Notice is an international alert circulated by Interpol on request of a member country, seeking provisional arrest pending an extradition request. It is not, by itself, an arrest warrant. Extradition is a separate, treaty-based process by which one state formally surrenders a person to another. A Red Notice can lead to detention at a border (including UAE airports); whether extradition follows depends on the bilateral treaty, dual criminality, and political/human-rights review.
Can a Red Notice be removed from Interpol's records?+
Yes — through a challenge filed with the Commission for the Control of Files (CCF), Interpol's independent review body. Grounds include: violation of Article 3 (prohibition on political/military/religious/racial cases), insufficient procedural basis in the requesting country, expired charges, abuse of Interpol channels for commercial pressure, or human-rights concerns. The CCF process is documentary and language-sensitive — early-stage drafting determines outcome.
How does the CCF appeals process work?+
An applicant (or counsel) files a written request with documentary support, in one of Interpol's official languages. The CCF acknowledges, conducts internal review with the National Central Bureau that issued the notice, and renders a decision — typically within 9 months, sometimes longer. Decisions can be: deletion, modification (e.g. clarification on dual-criminality basis), or rejection. Repeat applications are possible if new evidence or legal developments arise.
Does the UAE have an extradition treaty with Russia?+
A bilateral extradition treaty between Russia and the UAE was signed in 2014 and entered into force following ratification. The treaty governs the formal procedure for requests, dual-criminality, refusal grounds (nationality, political character, statute of limitations) and human-rights safeguards. In practice, treaty cases proceed through the UAE Ministry of Justice and the Russian Prosecutor General's Office, with court review at multiple stages. Specific case outcomes depend heavily on early evidentiary work and the framing of refusal grounds.
Can a person on a Red Notice safely transit through the UAE?+
No. The UAE actively cooperates with Interpol; a Red Notice triggers a system flag on entry. Detention at Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah airports has occurred even during short transits. The right approach for anyone aware of a Red Notice is to assess the underlying risk before any travel through the UAE — and where possible, to challenge the notice via the CCF in advance.
What is the typical timeline of a CCF challenge?+
Roughly: initial filing (1-2 weeks of preparation), CCF acknowledgement (within 30 days), internal review (3-6 months), decision (typically 6-9 months from filing). Urgent cases — where detention has occurred or extradition request is imminent — can be escalated, but the substantive review still requires complete documentation. We routinely build the dossier in parallel with any UAE court proceedings so both tracks advance simultaneously.