How can my account or transaction be stopped?
Under Article 5 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 (Anti-Money Laundering), the Chief of the Financial Intelligence Unit may, without prior notice, order the cessation or temporary suspension of a transaction suspected of being related to the crime for up to ten working days, and may freeze funds held with financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions or virtual asset service providers for up to 30 days, extendable by the Attorney General or their delegate.
Financial institutions must lift the freeze when the order is cancelled or expires unless extended.
What can the prosecution and the court do?
Without prior notice, they may order the identification, tracing, valuation, seizure or freezing of funds, criminal property or funds of equivalent value, prohibit their management and impose a travel ban pending the end of the investigation or trial (Article 6(1)).
Contracts or acts whose parties knew or should have known their purpose was to affect the authorities' ability to seize, freeze, recover or confiscate are null and void by operation of law, without prejudice to bona fide third parties (Article 6(3)).
How do I challenge a freeze?
Any interested party may file a grievance against the Public Prosecution's seizure, freezing or prohibition decisions, or against an extension by the Attorney General, before the competent criminal court (Article 6(4)).
The grievance is filed by a written report, the Public Prosecution submits its opinion and the court decides within 14 working days. The decision is final. If rejected, no new grievance is allowed for three months unless a serious reason arises (Article 6(5) and (6)).
What does confiscation cover?
Where the crime is proven, the court orders confiscation of the criminal property and of any funds owned by the offender equivalent to its value where it has been mixed with legitimate funds or cannot be seized (Article 31(1)).
Confiscation applies whether the property is held by the offender or another, subject to bona fide third parties, and can be ordered even if the perpetrator is unknown or the criminal case lapses if the link to the crime is established (Article 31(2) and (4)).
What should I do first?
Get the freezing order in writing
Who issued it and for how long.
Gather source-of-funds documents
Bank, contracts, tax and salary.
Diary the grievance route and the three-month rule
Do not waste the first application.
Protect third-party rights
Joint owners and lenders may be affected.
Call us on +971 50 653 1334 or message us on WhatsApp. We answer at any hour.
Frequently asked questions
How long can the FIU freeze my funds?
Up to 30 days, extendable by the Attorney General (Article 5(2)).
Can I challenge a freeze?
Yes, by grievance to the criminal court, decided within 14 working days (Article 6(4) and (5)).
Can I travel while an investigation is open?
The prosecution or court can impose a travel ban (Article 6(1)).
Can property be confiscated without a conviction?
In limited cases, if the link to the crime is established and the case lapses or the perpetrator is unknown (Article 31(4)).
Related guides
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The main points, the process and your first steps.
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What the 2025 Anti-Money Laundering Law says a prosecutor must show, how severe the penalties are and the limited ways to reduce them.
Read the guideTerrorist Financing
How the law defines financing of terrorism and proliferation, the penalties and the effect on companies.
Read the guideSources
Source: Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing), official English text on the UAE Legislation portal, checked 9 October 2026. The portal lists the law as active, in force from 14 October 2025. The Arabic text prevails over translations.
This page is general information, not legal advice.