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.