Legal View: How to report an illegal activity to Dubai Police

Dubai - Dubai Police's 24/7 service in four languages lets residents and tourists register complaints anonymously.

By Ashish Mehta

Published: Sun 21 Mar 2021, 11:59 AM

Question: I want to enquire about the Dubai Police's Al Ameen service. How do I use the service to report an illegal activity in Dubai? As a complainant, am I protected?

Answer: Pursuant to your queries, it may be noted that Al Ameen Service was launched in September 2003 by the Dubai Police. It assists the General Department of State Security in Dubai.

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It is a service that provides citizens, residents, non-residents and tourists in Dubai with an active and secure communication channel. Using it, they are able to communicate confidentially with the State Security Department and inform them of their concerns on various issues, including but not limited to, those that may be detrimental to the general maintenance of safety, security and stability in the emirate and the wider UAE.

The said issues may include but not be limited to reporting, any illegal activities occurring in the emirate; corruption and job exploitation; destructive terrorist and extremist activities; activities related to armed gangs and organised crimes; forgery of governmental and official documents; reporting counterfeit currencies; reporting espionage and disclosure of sensitive secrets of state institutions; spreading of rumours and propaganda to influence public opinion and agitate public order, peace and tranquility; any regulatory breaches; any ethical misconduct; and reporting information about any unlawful activity that is being planned or may occur which may adversely impact the security and welfare of the country and or is against the leadership and the government and political issues.

The Al Ameen Service may also be used to report other issues such as money laundering, drug trafficking, kidnapping, reporting any health, safety and environmental hazards; reporting information of any type of crime and suspicious activities including but not limited to economic offences; white-collar crime, financial crime and any activity which may risk the lives of others; reporting any traffic concerns; reporting any social cases; and in general reporting any activities which are not in conformity with the laws of the UAE.

One of the many exceptional features of the Al Ameen Service is the anonymity if offers

When an individual uses the Al Ameen Service as a complainant or informer (the Complainant) to register a complaint, his/her identity is kept completely confidential.

Further, the communication received from the Complainant is also kept confidential. Therefore, the Complainant should rest assured that strict and absolute confidentiality is maintained.

Furthermore, the Complainant shall not be involved in any investigations conducted thereafter. Therefore, complete unaccountability is also offered to the Complainant, as a result of which he/she is outrightly protected.

In cases where the complaint registered and/or information provided is regarding illegal acts being perpetrated or planned on, against a person other than the Complainant (the Victim), the identity of the Victim is also kept confidential.

Hence, in using the Al Ameen Service, both the Complainant and the Victim are altogether protected.

The Government of Dubai and the UAE encourages citizens, residents and non-residents to make use of the Al Ameen Service. Further they urge all to voice their concerns and provide information towards the welfare and stability of the UAE.

In view of the Complainant or the whistleblower being fully protected by the government of Dubai, you should utilise the Al Ameen Service without any hesitation and fear whatsoever.

Al Ameen Service is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A complainant is also given the option to register a complaint by using any one of the various means ranging from social media channels; phone application; toll-free ‎number (800 4888); fax number (04 209 7777); SMS (4444); and email (alameen@alameen.gov.ae) and website (www.alameen.ae).

It is offered in four languages: Arabic, English, Hindi and Malayalam.

Ashish Mehta is the founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates. He is qualified to practise law in Dubai, the United Kingdom and India. Full details of his firm on: www.amalawyers.com. Readers may e-mail their questions to: news@khaleejtimes.com or send them to Legal View, Khaleej Times, PO Box 11243, Dubai.