The process begins when a National Central Bureau (NCB) in the requesting country submits a formal request to INTERPOL’s General Secretariat in Lyon, France. The request must include a valid arrest warrant or court decision, detailed identification data, a description of the offense, applicable legal provisions, and confirmation that the crime carries a penalty of at least two years’ imprisonment under the requesting country’s law (INTERPOL Rules on Processing Data, Article 82). INTERPOL’s Notices and Diffusions Task Force reviews the submission to ensure compliance with Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, which prohibits intervention in political, military, religious, or racial matters.

Once approved, the Red Notice publishes to all 195 member countries through the I-24/7 secure network. The UAE NCB—based within the Ministry of Interior in Abu Dhabi—receives the notice and distributes it to police commands in each emirate, including Dubai Police. Officers at passport control, criminal investigation departments, and traffic checkpoints gain immediate access to updated Red Notice data. Only the requesting country decides whether to publish a Red Notice publicly on INTERPOL’s website. According to OpenSanctions, just 6,417 of 12,838 total Red Notice entities are searchable by name as of 2026—the majority remain visible only to law enforcement.

Dubai authorities also initiate Red Notice requests through the UAE NCB when suspects flee the Emirates. In cases involving serious financial crimes, organized crime networks, or high-value asset theft—such as the $3.3 million oud theft uncovered by Dubai Police in early 2026—UAE prosecutors request Red Notices to secure the arrest of fugitives abroad and facilitate their return for prosecution under UAE federal criminal law.

Upon identification of a Red Notice subject at Dubai International Airport or another entry point, immigration and border security officers detain the individual and transfer custody to Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department. Within the first 24 hours, officers verify identity through biometric comparison (fingerprints and facial recognition), confirm the Red Notice’s validity through the UAE NCB, and notify the Public Prosecution. UAE law mandates that detained persons be brought before the Public Prosecution within 48 hours of arrest for initial questioning and a custody-extension decision.

The Public Prosecution assesses whether to order continued detention pending formal extradition proceedings or to release the suspect on bail with travel restrictions. Several factors influence this decision: the gravity of the alleged offense; the strength of the requesting country’s documentation; whether a valid extradition treaty exists between the UAE and the requesting state; the defendant’s residential ties to the UAE; flight risk assessment; and any evidence of political or discriminatory motives. Bail is granted more readily in non-violent financial offenses where the defendant has established residence and business interests in the Emirates—it is typically denied for violent crimes, terrorism, or narcotics trafficking.

Consular notification happens simultaneously. Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations obligates UAE authorities to inform the arrested person’s national consulate without delay if the individual requests such notification. The consulate may provide a list of local attorneys, monitor detention conditions, and advocate diplomatically, though it cannot interfere with judicial proceedings. The detained person has the right to retain private legal counsel immediately; UAE law guarantees access to an attorney during interrogation and at all subsequent stages of extradition proceedings.

Judicial review begins when the requesting country submits formal extradition documentation to the UAE Ministry of Justice, which forwards the file to the competent court—typically the Federal Court of Appeal in Abu Dhabi or the Dubai Court of First Instance for Dubai cases. The court examines whether dual criminality is met, whether the extradition request complies with the applicable treaty, whether the alleged offense falls within prohibited categories (political, military, or religious offenses), and whether extradition would violate UAE public policy or fundamental rights. The average duration from arrest to final extradition decision ranges from three to nine months, depending on case complexity, the completeness of the requesting country’s documentation, and any legal challenges raised by the defendant’s counsel.

Detention under a Red Notice in Dubai doesn’t leave you without recourse. UAE law and international treaties stack protection on top of protection.

Your right to a lawyer kicks in the moment authorities detain you. Article 4 of Federal Law No. 35 of 1992 (Criminal Procedures Code) guarantees it. Can’t afford counsel? The court appoints one at state expense for serious felonies or sentences exceeding seven years—which covers most Red Notice cases.

You can attack the Red Notice itself through two separate channels, and both matter.

At the international level, file with the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files. Show that the notice was issued for a forbidden political, military, religious, or racial purpose (Article 3), or that the underlying offense doesn’t meet INTERPOL’s two-year minimum penalty threshold, or that it violates your data protection rights under INTERPOL’s framework. The CCF responds in 6–12 months for straightforward cases; complex multi-country disputes can stretch to 18 months. If you win, the notice gets deleted within seven days and all member countries are notified.

At the domestic level in the UAE, challenge extradition in court. The grounds are concrete: the act isn’t criminal under UAE law (dual criminality fails), the crime is predominantly political in character, the requesting state plans to prosecute you for something other than what the extradition request covers (specialty principle violated), credible evidence shows you’d face persecution based on race, religion, nationality, or politics, or you’ve already been finally judged on these same facts in another country (res judicata). Courts also examine whether extradition would breach UAE’s human rights commitments—especially if torture or a grossly unfair trial awaits you in the requesting country.

The requesting state must deliver complete paperwork: certified arrest warrant or judgment, statement of facts with legal citations, description sufficient to confirm your identity, and proof of probable cause or prima facie case. Most bilateral treaties give them 60 days from your provisional arrest. Miss that window and you walk free.

Nearly every bilateral extradition treaty the UAE has signed includes the political offense exception. It’s categorical: no surrender for crimes that are predominantly political. Opposition activists, journalists critical of foreign governments, and business figures fleeing authoritarian regimes have successfully invoked it. Courts look at two things: Did the violence target the state or its officials (objective test)? Was the goal to change government policy or structure (subjective test)? Get both right and you’re shielded.