What INTERPOL Actually Does
INTERPOL is an international coordination body headquartered in Lyon, France. It maintains criminal databases, facilitates information sharing between law enforcement agencies in its 195 member countries, and issues colour-coded notices. It does not investigate crimes itself, does not have operational officers, and cannot compel any member state to take any action.
What a Red Notice Is (and Is Not)
A Red Notice is a request circulated to member countries to locate and provisionally detain an individual pending extradition or other legal action. It is requested by a member country or an international tribunal, reviewed by INTERPOL’s General Secretariat for compliance with INTERPOL rules (including prohibitions on politically motivated notices), and then disseminated to member states.
A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. It is not legally binding on member states. The decision to act on a Red Notice — including whether to arrest, detain, or simply monitor — rests entirely with the country where the individual is located.
When Dubai Police Can Arrest Based on a Red Notice
For Dubai Police to arrest an individual based on a Red Notice, three conditions must all be satisfied:
- Formal extradition request: the requesting country must submit a formal extradition request to UAE authorities, accompanied by supporting evidence and documentation.
- Dual criminality: the alleged offence must be criminalized in both the requesting country and the UAE. If the conduct is not a crime under UAE law, extradition will be refused.
- Judicial review and court approval: UAE courts evaluate the evidence, the legal basis, and whether the individual’s rights will be protected in the requesting country. If the court is not satisfied, extradition — and thus arrest — will be denied.
The UAE’s extradition framework is governed by UAE Federal Law No. 39 of 2006 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters. Article 7 sets out the specific conditions under which detention is permissible. Where no extradition treaty exists, this law provides the legal foundation. Where bilateral extradition treaties do exist, their terms govern.
Movement Restrictions Without Arrest
Where a formal extradition request has not been received, or the conditions for arrest have not been met, Dubai still has tools to limit an individual’s mobility:
- Travel bans: Dubai Police and immigration authorities can impose a travel ban preventing the individual from leaving the UAE while legal and diplomatic processes proceed. Travel bans are often accompanied by passport confiscation.
- Immigration control alerts: the UAE’s immigration system is linked to INTERPOL databases. Flagged individuals are identified at entry and exit points without requiring immediate detention.
- Surveillance: individuals may be monitored while awaiting a formal extradition request, without being formally detained.
- Judicial summons: in some cases, an individual may be summoned to court to address inquiries related to the notice, allowing further assessment without arrest.
If a travel ban has been imposed in connection with an INTERPOL notice, check your UAE travel ban status through our UAE travel ban guide. If a police or court case exists in the UAE, check its status online before attending any hearing.
How Dubai Police Collaborate with INTERPOL in Practice
Dubai is an active INTERPOL member and has demonstrated consistent willingness to act on Red Notices where extradition conditions are met. Notable examples:
- William Pereira Rugato: a Brazilian national wanted for match-fixing and sports betting fraud, arrested in Dubai on arrival from Europe following a Red Notice and formal cooperation request from Brazilian authorities.
- Sean McGovern: an Irish fugitive linked to organised crime, detained in Dubai in October 2024 following a Red Notice and extradition request.
Both arrests followed the full process: Red Notice, formal extradition request, and UAE judicial review. Dubai Police executed the arrests; INTERPOL did not.
Identifying and Challenging a Red Notice
If you believe you may be subject to a Red Notice or an INTERPOL marker:
- Request your INTERPOL file via the CCF: INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files allows individuals to request access to their file and challenge notices that are politically motivated, based on insufficient evidence, or outdated.
- Engage legal counsel: a lawyer with expertise in international extradition can identify the requesting country, the basis for the notice, and whether dual criminality applies.
- Challenge UAE travel bans in court: if movement restrictions have been imposed, these can be contested through the UAE judicial system on the grounds that they are insufficiently justified.
- Use diplomatic channels: your home country’s embassy can assist in engaging with the requesting country or negotiating the notice’s removal.
Limitations of INTERPOL’s Role
- No enforcement power: INTERPOL cannot compel any country to arrest anyone. Each member state retains full sovereignty.
- Must comply with national law: any arrest or extradition must align with UAE law regardless of the Red Notice.
- Human rights safeguards: extradition will be refused where there is a risk of torture, unfair trial, or political persecution in the requesting country.
- CCF oversight: INTERPOL’s CCF reviews and can remove notices that are politically motivated, erroneous, or violate INTERPOL’s own rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can INTERPOL make arrests in Dubai? No. INTERPOL has no police force and no arrest authority. Any arrest is executed by Dubai Police following a formal extradition request, dual criminality check, and UAE court approval.
Is a Red Notice the same as an arrest warrant? No. A Red Notice is a request to locate and provisionally detain pending extradition. It is not legally binding. Member states decide independently whether and how to act on it.
What happens without a formal extradition request? Dubai may impose travel bans, passport confiscation, and surveillance, but will not typically arrest without a formal extradition request.
How can I challenge a Red Notice? Through INTERPOL’s CCF, which can remove notices that are politically motivated or based on insufficient evidence. Any resulting UAE travel ban can be challenged in UAE courts.
What is dual criminality? The principle that the alleged act must be criminal in both the requesting country and the UAE. If the conduct is not a crime under UAE law, extradition will be refused.
What rights do I have if flagged by a Red Notice in Dubai? Legal representation, a fair hearing before UAE courts if extradition proceedings begin, access to your INTERPOL file via the CCF, and the right to challenge any UAE travel ban in court.
Key Takeaways
- INTERPOL has no police force and no arrest authority — it coordinates; Dubai Police arrest.
- A Red Notice is not an arrest warrant and is not legally binding on any member state.
- Arrest in Dubai requires: formal extradition request + dual criminality + UAE court approval.
- Without a formal request, Dubai may impose travel bans and surveillance but will not typically detain.
- Notices can be challenged via INTERPOL’s CCF; UAE travel bans can be challenged in UAE courts.
References
- UAE Federal Law No. 39 of 2006 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters — UAE Legislation Portal
- INTERPOL — About Red Notices
- INTERPOL CCF — Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files
