The Dubai Civil Court of First Instance ordered two men to jointly pay an investor AED 4.65 million (≈ US$1.27 million) after they lured him into a fraudulent property transaction that was marketed as a pathway to a UAE Golden Visa.
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Damages awarded:
- Restitution of the AED 4.35 million principal.
- Compensation of AED 300,000 (≈ US$82 000).
- 5 % legal interest on the amounts.
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Criminal background:
- Both defendants were previously convicted of fraud, each receiving a one‑year prison sentence, a joint fine equal to the sum involved, and an order for deportation.
- An appeal was rejected, allowing the civil court to treat the fraud as conclusively established and focus on damages.
The court noted that the claimant suffered additional loss because his funds were unavailable for investment for nearly a year and because of the burden of complaints, investigations, and litigation.
Wider pattern of Golden Visa fraud
- July 2025 “lifetime golden visa” hoax – consultancies claimed Indian and Bangladeshi nationals could obtain permanent UAE residency for a flat AED 100,000 (≈ US$27,200) fee. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) dismissed the claim within a day and the firm apologized and halted its advisory services.
- Early 2026 ICP advisories – repeated warnings against unauthorized intermediaries marketing residency on the authority’s behalf.
- May 2026 investor complaint – a foreign buyer was told a AED 3 million (≈ US$817 000) off‑plan unit would trigger an “almost immediate” Golden Visa. Months later, the developer and brokerage remained silent.
- September 2025 Citizenship and Residency Court – fined 161 defendants a combined AED 152.24 million (≈ US$41.5 million) and ordered deportations for trading entry permits and abandoning sponsored employees, one of the emirate’s largest visa‑fraud rulings.
- September 2026 arrest – a well‑known singer was detained for allegedly selling nearly 40 fake visas at AED 7,000–9,000 each, prompting a public warning against social‑media visa offers.
Due‑diligence safeguards for Golden Visa applicants
- Property eligibility – Applicants must own property valued at minimum AED 2 million (≈ US$545 000). Eligibility is verified through official land‑registry records. Properties below the threshold, with unresolved title issues, or located outside qualifying zones do not support a visa application.
- Broker verification – Ensure the broker is licensed by Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). License status can be checked via the Dubai Land Department’s online portal before any payment is made.
- Application channel – The ICP states that Golden Visa applications are processed exclusively through official government channels. No private advisory body, domestic or foreign, is authorized to submit or guarantee approval. Any intermediary claiming special access, guaranteed outcomes, or a private nomination route is offering a non‑existent product.
These measures are intended to prevent both outright scams and legitimate‑looking transactions that ultimately fail to meet the Golden Visa criteria.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
