Guide · updated 31.07.2026 · 9 min read · Lucent Legal team

How to Report Cybercrime in the UAE: eCrime, Aman, and 999

Your account got hacked, someone phished money out of you, or you're being blackmailed online — and the first question is simple: who do you actually call. The answer depends on which emirate you're in and whether something is happening right now or already happened. Here's the map of channels: Dubai Police's eCrime portal, Abu Dhabi's Aman service (and why it isn't quite "report a cybercrime"), the federal MoI UAE platform, plus what counts as evidence and how long a response takes.

What counts as cybercrime under UAE law

Law No. 34/2021 groups a wide range of acts under "cybercrime": hacking systems and accounts, online fraud, identity theft, online blackmail, spreading malware, and defamation or insults online. Penalties vary by offense: hacking government systems carries AED 200,000–500,000 and prison time; cyber fraud involving stolen money carries at least a year in prison plus a fine of AED 250,000–1,000,000. This isn't an exhaustive list — the exact charge and penalty depend on the specifics of the case and need a lawyer's read.

Where to report: channels by emirate

There's no single nationwide "cybercrime hotline" — there are several parallel systems, one per emirate plus a federal layer.

• Dubai — the eCrime portal (dubaipolice.gov.ae) and the same service inside the Dubai Police app. The main channel for hacking, phishing, and data theft in the emirate; you can file online, including anonymously.
• Abu Dhabi — the AD Police app/website (adpolice.gov.ae). A dedicated cybercrime filing section where you attach evidence and get a case number. This is the right channel for a formal report — not Aman (see below).
• Federal level — MoI UAE eCrimes, inside the Ministry of Interior app. Covers all emirates, useful if the incident isn't tied to one specific city.
• Your nearest police station — for mixed cases, or if it's easier to file in person with original documents.

For a detailed breakdown of 2026 scam patterns and what to do in the first hours after a financial scam, see Scammed in Dubai? How to Report Fraud; for the general mechanics of filing any report with Dubai Police (not just cyber), see How to File a Police Report in Dubai.

Aman in Abu Dhabi: an important clarification

Worth being upfront about a real disagreement between sources here. A number of unofficial guides describe Aman as the channel to "report a cybercrime" in Abu Dhabi. But according to the service's own official FAQ (adpolice.gov.ae), Aman is a line for anonymous tips and information (security intelligence), not a system for registering a criminal complaint: the information gets passed to the relevant authority, but it isn't an open case with a number and a status. Contact details: phone 800 2626, SMS 2828, email [email protected], available 24/7 in Arabic, English, and Urdu.

If you need an actual formal report with a case number — for example, to support freezing an account later or filing a civil claim — use the "Report Cybercrime" section in the AD Police app, or go to a station, not just Aman. It's reasonable to do both: Aman if you want to stay anonymous and just pass along information, a formal report if you need procedural status.

999 or eCrime: how to choose

Call 999 if it's happening right now — active blackmail with money demanded immediately, money actively being withdrawn from your account, a direct threat. Use eCrime / AD Police / MoI UAE if the incident already happened (you found the hack, the money left yesterday) and you need an investigation, not an emergency response. Call 901 if you're not sure what to do and want to talk it through before filing formally in Dubai.

What evidence to collect

The more complete your evidence package on day one, the faster and more useful the initial review will be.

1. Screenshots of every message — the full chat history with the scammer or hacker: profiles, phone numbers, links.
2. Financial trail — transfer confirmations, transaction ID, date and time, the recipient's account or wallet details.
3. Technical artifacts — email headers, links, screenshots of suspicious websites before they get taken down.
4. Identity documents — your Emirates ID or passport (needed to file), plus any details you have on the suspect.
5. Timeline — a short, precise, time-stamped account of what happened and in what order.

Response times and what happens next

The first confirmation that an eCrime report in Dubai has been received typically arrives, according to legal guides, within 3–7 business days — that's registration and the start of processing, not a verdict on the case. Unofficial legal sources put the equivalent timeline in Abu Dhabi through AD Police at around 7–10 business days — that figure isn't confirmed directly by the official police portal, so treat it as a rough guide rather than a promise. You'll get a case number to track status; if there's enough for a criminal charge, the file goes to the public prosecution, but there's no single deadline for cybercrime cases across all emirates. If the incident involves financial fraud and there's a chance of freezing the receiving account, the clock runs in hours, not days — it's worth arranging precautionary measures with a lawyer in parallel with filing the report.

This material is for information only and is not legal advice. UAE law changes — a lawyer will assess how it applies to your situation.