Extradition between the UAE and Ukraine

UAE-Ukraine extradition is governed by a bilateral treaty signed in 2012 and entered into force in 2013. The surrender procedure is regulated by this agreement as well as the domestic legislation of each state. This means that a person located in the UAE or Ukraine may be detained and transferred to the requesting party when the established conditions are met.

The key risks include detention based on an Interpol Red Notice, provisional arrest pending the submission of a complete document package, and a subsequent extradition review by the competent authorities of the receiving state. At the same time, the treaty permits refusal of extradition on grounds of political persecution, risk of torture, expiry of statutes of limitations, or absence of dual criminality.If you find yourself at risk —consult our extradition lawyer as early as possible.

The surrender procedure is based on an international treaty and the domestic legislation of both countries. The rules are consistent with each other, but each state applies its own procedural rules when examining a request.

International instruments:

UAE legislation:

Ukrainian legislation:

The process begins with the submission of a formal request by the Ukrainian side and may be accompanied by the immediate provisional arrest of the wanted person. Each stage is regulated: from document submission to the court decision.

Initiation of the request

The extradition request is submitted by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine through diplomatic channels — typically via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In parallel, a preliminary request for provisional arrest UAE extradition may be filed: this allows the person to be detained before the full document package is received. This mechanism is used when there are grounds to believe the wanted person may leave UAE territory.

Provisional arrest in the UAE

The basis for detention is an Interpol Red Notice or an official state request. Arrest in UAE Ukrainian case proceedings is sanctioned by the emirate court. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 39 of 2006, the maximum period of provisional detention pending receipt of the full extradition document package is up to 60 days. During this period, the Ukrainian side is obliged to provide all necessary materials.

Court proceedings in the UAE

The case is examined by the court of the relevant emirate — most commonly Dubai Courts or the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. The court verifies the existence of dual criminality (the act must be a criminal offence in both countries), the absence of a political nature to the charges, and compliance of the request with the treaty requirements. The final extradition decision is approved by the UAE Ministry of Justice. Dubai is a jurisdiction with extensive practice in handling international requests, which generally expedites the process. If you are facing extradition arrest Dubai airport or detention elsewhere in the Emirates, legal representation must be secured immediately.

The procedure is governed by the CCP of Ukraine (Articles 573–589) and the bilateral treaty. The Office of the Prosecutor General plays a key role: it conducts the extradition review and makes procedural decisions.

Extradition review

The Office of the Prosecutor General verifies compliance of the request with the requirements of Articles 574–576 of the CCP of Ukraine: the existence of dual criminality, the admissibility of surrender for the category of offence, and the absence of grounds for refusal. At this stage, the entire package of documents received from the UAE is analysed.

Extradition arrest

The decision on provisional arrest is taken by the investigating judge. Under Article 583 of the CCP of Ukraine, the detention period UAE extradition Ukraine on a provisional basis is up to 40 days. The maximum extradition arrest period under Article 584 of the CCP of Ukraine is up to 12 months. During this period, the defence is entitled to challenge the arrest and present arguments against surrender.

Restrictions on extradition

The Constitution of Ukraine (Article 25) explicitly prohibits the extradition of Ukrainian citizens to foreign states. This restriction is absolute and admits no exceptions under the treaty. In addition to citizenship, grounds for refusal include: risk of torture or inhuman treatment, political nature of the prosecution, expiry of limitation periods, absence of dual criminality.

Refusal of surrender is possible on the part of both the UAE and Ukraine. The grounds may be either formal (procedural) or substantive — relating to the nature of the charge or violation of human rights.

List of grounds for refusal:

An extradition request must be accompanied by a complete package of documents. An incomplete or improperly prepared package is one of the grounds for refusing to examine the request.

Most cases begin with an international search through Interpol. An Interpol Ukraine UAE notice precedes the formal extradition request and may serve as a basis for immediate detention.

A Red Notice Ukraine Dubai — is a wanted notice for the purpose of arrest and subsequent extradition. It is not an international arrest warrant, but it serves as a basis for detention in most states, including the UAE. You can read more about red notices in Dubai and the options available to contest them.

A Diffusion is a less formal instrument sent directly to national bureaus without publication in the general database.Interpol notices can be challenged before the CCF (Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files). A successful challenge leads to deletion of the record from the database, which significantly complicates further prosecution. At the same time, a Red Notice does not entail automatic surrender: each state makes an independent decision on detention and extradition. If you are subject to an Interpol arrest warrant in the UAE, you should act without delay.

Actual timelines largely depend on the specific court, the completeness of the documents, and the chosen defence strategy. Indicative timelines help to understand the timeframes within which key decisions are made.

Indicative timelines:

The five-day appeal period is critically short. Missing this deadline deprives the defence of the opportunity to challenge the arrest on appeal. This is precisely why legal assistance must be secured from the first day of detention.

The defence strategy is formed from the first day of detention. Errors made in the first 48 hours — a wrongly chosen position, failure to present arguments against provisional arrest — can significantly complicate subsequent proceedings.

An extradition lawyer in UAE analyses the nature of the charge for political elements, gathers evidence of human rights risks, and prepares procedural documents within the established deadlines. Alternative protection mechanisms are considered in parallel: an asylum application, obtaining temporary protection, and challenging international wanted Ukraine UAE Interpol notices before the CCF. The extradition UAE Ukraine and Ukrainian warrant UAE cases require separate legal strategies in each jurisdiction.

Legal positions in the UAE and Ukraine are built differently: each jurisdiction imposes its own requirements on the form and content of objections. A lawyer specialising in this field knows these differences and uses them in the client’s interests.

If you or your loved one is at risk of extradition — contact us for a consultation before any procedural decisions are made. The earlier a specialist is engaged, the broader the opportunities for defence.