Dubai Police Arrest Eight In AED 10,000 Fake Driving Licence Scheme

Dubai Police have arrested an eight-member criminal gang responsible for a fraudulent driving licence scheme, according to The Cyber Express. The operation involved charging customers AED 10,000 for UAE driving licences without requiring them to complete driving lessons or pass any tests, officials stated. The arrests were made by the General Department of Criminal Investigation in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Roads and Transport Authority.

The scheme relied on exploiting legitimate licence exchange agreements that allow holders of driving licences from certain countries to swap them for UAE licences without additional training or testing, Dubai Police said. The suspects fraudulently obtained driving licences from a neighbouring country for customers who had never visited that nation, the report noted. These foreign licences were then used as the basis for obtaining the UAE driving permits.

How The Scheme Operated

The Economic Crimes Department found that the gang used offices belonging to transaction processing companies in the UAE to approach potential customers, according to The Cyber Express. They promoted their services by promising a UAE licence at the end of the process without any travel, lessons or tests, the report stated. The suspects arranged for licences to be issued in a neighbouring country on behalf of clients who had no physical presence there.

This method allowed the gang to present foreign licences to UAE authorities for exchange under existing reciprocal agreements, the source material indicates. The use of established commercial offices helped the suspects approach potential customers and promote their services.

Who Is Affected

The customers who paid the AED 10,000 fee are the direct participants in this fraud, having received licences obtained through deceptive means, according to the report. The UAE Roads and Transport Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were involved in the investigation, indicating that the exchange mechanisms they oversee were the target of the exploitation. The scheme highlights a vulnerability in how cross-border licence exchanges are verified when the initial foreign licence was obtained fraudulently.

What should you do?

Readers should verify the legitimacy of any service promising driving licences without standard testing or training. Those holding licences obtained through similar arrangements should contact the Roads and Transport Authority to confirm their status. Monitoring official communications from Dubai Police provides the most accurate information on enforcement actions and licence validity.

What to do and how to stay safe: Dubai Police

• Verify that your driving licence was issued through official channels and required all standard tests.
• Contact the Roads and Transport Authority directly if you suspect your licence was obtained fraudulently.
• Avoid services that promise licences without travel, lessons or testing requirements.
• Monitor official police announcements for updates on licence validity and enforcement actions.

Step-by-step guide: Social Engineering Warning Signs and How to Respond

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

How much did the gang charge for a fake driving licence?

The gang charged customers AED 10,000 for each driving licence issued through the fraudulent scheme.

Did the customers have to take driving tests?

No, the scheme allowed customers to obtain licences without taking any driving lessons or tests.

Which agencies were involved in the arrests?

Dubai Police, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Roads and Transport Authority cooperated on the arrests.