The legislation defines “lost property” as money or movable items with legal ownership and value that are unintentionally left behind, and “abandoned property” as items of value that the owner or lawful possessor has expressly or implicitly relinquished. Stray animals are excluded from both definitions. The police are now empowered to receive reports, take custody of the items, safely store them and record detailed information including descriptions, dates, locations and finder details.
Individual finders must now register found items in the Police’s electronic system within 24 hours, and hand them over within 48 hours. They are prohibited from using, claiming or disposing of such property until legal processes are complete. Failure to comply may result in criminal penalties. Upon receipt, the police will issue an official receipt showing the item’s description, condition, finder’s details, date and place found.
Owners of lost property have the right to reclaim it before the authority disposes of it, or to claim its value within three years if it is sold. If property is disposed of without compensation under the law, the owner has the right to recover it from whoever possesses it. In cases of multiple claimants the law stipulates that the property or its value will go to the person confirmed by a final court ruling. Claims may not be made after three years from the date the property is announced found unless a valid reason is provided and the claimant covers storage and announcement costs.
A new reward scheme for finders has been introduced: the Police may issue a certificate of appreciation or pay a financial reward equal to 10 per cent of the property’s value, up to AED 50,000, after disposal—regardless of whether the owner comes forward. A finder may request to keep unclaimed property after one year, subject to safeguarding rules; if an owner later claims it, the finder must return it.
The law compels all government and private entities to cooperate with Dubai Police in registering and handing over found or abandoned items within prescribed deadlines and through the electronic system. Violators may be issued a written warning and face fines from AED 500 to AED 100,000, with repeat offences in the same year potentially doubling the fine up to AED 200,000.
Law 17 of 2025 replaces Law No. 5 of 2015 on the Disposal of Lost and Abandoned Property. Existing regulations under the older law remain effective only so far as they do not conflict with the new legislation. The law takes effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Legal specialists say the move marks a significant upgrade in transparency and procedural clarity for handling lost and abandoned property in Dubai. The requirement for an electronic registration system and clearly defined time-limits for claimants and finders bring Dubai’s system into closer alignment with international best practice. At the same time, some commentators note that the new obligation on finders to register items within 24 hours and hand them over within 48 hours could place a practical burden on everyday people who happen upon found items outside urban centres or with unclear origins.
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