By Wam

In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has issued Law No. (5) of 2015 on lost and abandoned property in Dubai.

Article (2) of the law defined the lost properties as the monies and properties that are acquired by law, has a value, lost by its lawful owner without deliberate intention and found within Dubai. Further, the abandoned monies are the monies and properties that are acquired by law and their lawful owner deliberately abandon them.

Pursuant to the law, finder of any lost and/or abandoned property is obliged to submit such properties or monies to the police within 48 hours and may not act ownership on them; violation of such act is subject to criminal liability. The police issue a report including detailed description and any other relevant information.

The law also prescribed the responsibilities of Dubai Police in implementing and activating the rules and regulations attached to the law, and Dubai Police is the entity responsible for receiving, preserving and investigating any lost and/or abandoned property.

According to the law, finder of any lost and/or abandoned property is entitled to receive a 10 per cent reward from the total value of the lost and/or abandoned property, limited to Dh50,000. Reward is payable whether original owner claimed the property or otherwise. The finder may claim the entire property if it was not claimed within one year from the date of receiving by the police.

The new law aims to regulate the procedures applied on lost and/or abandoned property and also encourage public to submit such properties to their lawful owners.

Law No (5) of 2015 overwrites any other legislation that contradicts with its articles. The Law is considered active from the date of issuance and to be published in the Official Gazette.

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