Dubai has introduced new regulations for lost and abandoned property with Law No. (17) of 2025. The law provides clear definitions: lost property refers to valuable items unintentionally left by their owner, while abandoned property includes items intentionally or implicitly given up. Stray animals are excluded from both categories.
Under the new law, Dubai Police are responsible for receiving reports, securing items, maintaining detailed records, and establishing an electronic system to register and announce found property. They will also determine costs related to storage and public notices.
Finders of lost property (excluding public officials on duty) must register items with the police within 24 hours and surrender them within 48 hours. Owners must pay storage and announcement fees to reclaim their items.
The law allows Dubai Police to offer finders a reward of up to 10% of the property's value (capped at AED 50,000), regardless of whether the owner claims it. Finders are prohibited from using or keeping the property, with non-compliance potentially leading to criminal penalties.
Procedures for reclaiming property are detailed: owners can retrieve items before disposal or claim their value within three years if sold. The new law replaces Law No. (5) of 2015, with previous regulations remaining valid unless they conflict with the new legislation. Claims filed after the deadline will not be accepted without valid justification.
