What happens to stuff you lose at Dubai airport?

The Dubai International Airport organised an auction of lost items collected at the airport over the past few months between August 16 and 18, as per instructions from the Dubai Police.
The police department's Auction Committee and the General Department of Airport security held the auction in the presence of Abdulla Al Muhairi, head of the committee, and Captain Mohamed Al Kimda of the Dubai Airport's Lost & Found section.
Of the items exhibited and auctioned off, many were electronic goods including mobile phones, iPads and laptops, watches and other accessories. The value of the lost and found items and confiscated goods at the Dubai International Airport was estimated at Dh1,170,000 last year, and the value of confiscated items alone was Dh930,000. Confiscated items are those which are banned in air transit, while found items include those abandoned by passengers due to excess luggage restrictions. Such items are taken to warehouses and placed under an e-auction. Items like clothing and food are donated to charity associations.
In a savvy move, the police also made the auction announcement via its Twitter account. Elaborating on the mechanism of the auction, Major Al Muhairi said that all lost items are handed over to the department, after which an approximate price is attached to each item. Items put up for auction are goods unclaimed by their owners for over three months.
But participating in the auction isn't just a walk in the park.
To enter the auction, bidders must be registered with the Dubai Police and have a trader registration number issued to them. A refundable deposit amount, a participation fee and insurance must also be paid.
Lost property law
Before the auction, the police ensures that all efforts are made to return the lost items to their rightful owners. Photos of the lost properties are put up on social media, and the owners can also fast-track the process by sending images of their lost items via Dubai Police's smart app. The police website also offers an enquiry section on lost items, where people can find a serial number or description of their items. Once located, the public can claim the item(s) directly at the police station.
The Dubai International Airport has a separate e-system for registering lost and found items, which can also be accessed via smartphones.
These efforts are made in accordance with the law on lost and abandoned property, issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
According to the law, those who find lost property or money must hand over the items to the police within 48 hours. The person who finds it is entitled to receive a 10 per cent reward of the total value of the items submitted. If no one claims the lost items, the finder can claim it within a specified legal period.
- amira@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai