Urgent
Someone has been arrested or detained in Dubai
A family member, partner or employee is being held, has had their passport taken or cannot leave the country.
Call now — 01582 853 783Dubai network
Dubai and
the UAE.
When someone you love is detained in Dubai, or your business runs into trouble in the UAE, we act for you from the UK and work alongside trusted UAE advocates through our established network — one solicitor coordinating everything, in plain English, from the first call.
- 24-hour line01582 853 783
- Dubai networkTrusted UAE advocates
- Both sides coveredThe UK and the UAE, together
- 4.7 on ReviewSolicitorsFrom 277+ client reviews
Where do you need help?
Business
My business has a problem in the UAE
Unpaid invoices, a contract dispute, a bounced cheque, staff issues or an investigation.
Business problemsPlanning
I want to set up a business in Dubai
Mainland or free zone, licences, visas, banking, tax and the UK side of the move.
Setting up in DubaiArrested or detained
Someone has been arrested in Dubai. What now?
The first days decide a great deal, and the system will feel unfamiliar: proceedings are in Arabic and people can be held while the Public Prosecution investigates. Here is what to do.
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Find out where they are held
Ask the police, the hotel or the employer which police station or detention centre is holding them, and note any case or reference number you are given.
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Tell the British Embassy
Consular staff can check on their welfare, visit, pass on messages and provide a list of local lawyers. They cannot get someone released or give legal advice. The FCDO is on +44 (0)20 7008 5000, day and night.
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Sign nothing they cannot read
Statements are usually written in Arabic. They should ask for an interpreter and a translation before signing anything.
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Call us
We instruct a trusted UAE advocate through our network, keep the family in the UK informed and deal with anything that needs doing here.
Tap to call
01582 853 783
24 hours · 7 days
We are solicitors in England and Wales. In the UAE, police and court representation is carried out by UAE-licensed advocates; we instruct and work alongside them, so you have one firm coordinating the case and one solicitor you can always reach.
Where we help when someone is held in the UAE
Laws in the UAE differ from the UK in ways that catch visitors and residents out. These are the situations we are asked about most.
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Arrest and detention
Getting a local advocate to the case quickly, and keeping the family informed at every stage. -
Drug allegations
Even trace amounts, and some prescription and CBD products, are treated as serious offences. -
Social media and messages
Posts, reviews and private messages can lead to criminal complaints under the UAE cybercrime law. -
Alcohol and public conduct
Allegations of drunkenness, offensive language or gestures, and indecency in public. -
Debts and cheques
Unpaid loans, credit cards and bounced cheques, which can lead to enforcement and travel bans. -
Travel bans and passports
Finding out whether a ban exists, why, and what it takes to have it lifted. -
Interpol notices and extradition
Where the UAE seeks someone who is in the UK, we deal with the UK side of the case. -
Families and employers in the UK
Liaising with the FCDO and explaining, in plain English, what is happening and what comes next.
Not listed here? Call us. If we cannot help, we will tell you who can.
Call 01582 853 783After the call
Most families ring us having never dealt with a lawyer abroad. This is what follows, and you keep the same solicitor throughout.
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You tell us what has happened
Free, confidential and privileged from the first word. We tell you plainly what we can do.
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We brief a trusted UAE advocate
Chosen from our network for the type of case, and instructed only once you have agreed the fees.
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We handle the UK side
Documents, statements, the FCDO, employers and anything else that needs doing here.
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You hear from one solicitor
Updates in English, from the same person, until the matter is resolved.
Doing business in the UAE, when it goes wrong.
Dubai is a straightforward place to trade until something goes wrong. A customer stops paying, a partner walks away with the business, a member of staff makes a complaint, or a cheque bounces — and suddenly a director cannot leave the country.
We advise UK businesses and their directors on problems in the UAE, working with UAE advocates through our network on the local proceedings while we look after the UK side: your contracts and staff here, your directors' personal exposure, and any connected proceedings in England and Wales.
If you are still planning the move, our guide to setting up a business in Dubai covers structures, licences, visas, banking and tax.
Business problems we help with
- Contract and partnership disputes
- Unpaid invoices and debt recovery
- Bounced cheques and travel bans
- Staff disputes under UAE labour law
- Fraud allegations and investigations
- Directors and assets in both countries
What our clients say
Real feedback from the people we have represented, published on ReviewSolicitors and Google.
Contacted liberty law and from start to finish very happy with the whole process very helpful polite and easy to deal with they real do now there stuff
I could not recommend this firm enough. They manage to maintain complete professionalism whilst also being personable.
Rasheda and Dean clearly explained every step of the process from beginning to end, with Dean taking the time to explain all of legal jargon. I really appreciated this as it made, what started as a daunting experience, so much easier to complete.
I am so glad that I took the time to look around and read reviews before choosing any local firm. It really made a difference.
Thank you Liberty Law.
Liberty Law took over my case at its hardest point. Dean Garrett was calm, straight-talking and on top of every detail from the first call: he strengthened my case, instructed an outstanding barrister, and his judgement was right at every turn. Rasheda kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes — calls arranged, documents where they needed to be, nothing ever too much trouble. My case concluded on day two of the final hearing, with an outcome I was very pleased with. They believed in my case when it mattered, and they delivered. Highly recommended.
I had an excellent experience. They were professional, knowledgeable, and always kept me informed throughout the process. They took the time to answer my questions, provided clear advice, and worked hard to achieve a great outcome. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for reliable and dedicated legal representation. If you are looking for professionalism and results you have come to the right place!!
Cannot thank the guys enough my solicitor went absolutely above and beyond
I contacted Liberty Law Solicitors regarding one of my legal cases. Throughout the past year, Mr. Faris Nazar handled my case with exceptional dedication, honesty, sincerity, and professionalism. Thanks to his hard work and expertise, I was ultimately successful in my case. I can confidently say that this firm is highly professional and genuinely committed to serving its clients. They have earned my trust, and I would highly recommend their services.👏
Where do I even start from the start to the very end they delivered I can’t thank the team and Itsam Malik enough for the results we was looking at 16-20 years and they got it down to 3 years which turned into 10 months the whole team and Itsam malik are great people!
I cannot thank Liberty Law Solicitors enough for the support and representation I received during a very difficult and stressful time.
My solicitor Dean Garrett was honest, clear, and professional from the outset, explaining my situation and the possible outcomes without giving false reassurance. I really appreciated that level of transparency.
The preparation for the hearing was thorough and made a real difference. I felt well guided throughout the process and was able to stay calm and focused because of the support I received.
I am very grateful for the work carried out on my case and would highly recommend Liberty Law Solicitors to anyone in need of strong, honest, and professional legal representation.
I recently sought advice and support from Atiq at Liberty Law Solicitors regarding an employment matter.
I’m genuinely grateful for the way Atiq handled everything. He made the whole process feel manageable, took the time to explain things clearly, and provided steady reassurance throughout. Knowing I had someone knowledgeable and dependable guiding me made a big difference.
It’s incredibly reassuring to have Atiq and the team at Liberty Law in your corner. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Questions people ask
Can a UK solicitor represent someone in a Dubai court?
No. Only UAE-licensed advocates can appear before the UAE courts and the Public Prosecution. We instruct trusted advocates through our network, work alongside them, and coordinate the case for you from the UK.
What can the British Embassy do?
The FCDO can give consular help: checking on welfare, visiting, contacting family and providing a list of local lawyers. It cannot interfere in a criminal case, get someone out of detention or pay legal fees. Its number is +44 (0)20 7008 5000, open 24 hours.
How quickly can you help?
Call the 24-hour line on 01582 853 783. From that first call we start finding out where things stand and which advocate in our network is right for the case.
What is a travel ban?
A travel ban stops someone leaving the UAE. It can be imposed in criminal cases and in some civil and debt cases, sometimes without the person knowing until they reach the airport. A UAE advocate can check whether one exists and apply to have it lifted.
Are bounced cheques still a crime in the UAE?
Most cheques that bounce for lack of funds are now dealt with as civil matters rather than crimes, but they can still lead to enforcement action and travel bans. Cheques written in bad faith remain a criminal offence.
Can the UAE extradite someone from the UK?
The UK and the UAE have an extradition treaty. Any request is decided by the UK courts and the Home Secretary, and there are legal bars and human rights grounds that can be raised. We advise on the UK side.
What does it cost?
The first conversation is free. Before anyone is instructed, we explain how fees work — ours and those of any UAE advocate — so there are no surprises.
Nothing on this page is legal advice, and no solicitor–client relationship is created by reading it. Liberty Law Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales. We do not hold a UAE licence: work in the UAE is carried out by UAE-licensed advocates and advisers, whom we instruct and work alongside through our network.
Tell us what has happened.
The first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. One emergency line, a network in Dubai, and a solicitor at the end of it.
Request a confidential callback
Sent straight to a solicitor. We reply within two working hours, and immediately outside them if the matter is urgent.
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Held in Dubai? Call us before anything is signed. One solicitor here. Trusted advocates there. Distance should not decide the outcome. You reach a solicitor, not a call centre.
The first conversation is free, confidential, and privileged from the first word. We work with trusted advocates in Dubai and across the UAE.
24-hour line 01582 853 783