Mio & Partners Guide To Dubai Police Smart App Updates

By Author: MIO & Partners
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Dubai Police Smart App Update: Circulars and Travel Ban

In December 2025, the Dubai Police announced a significant enhancement to their digital services, allowing residents to verify their financial and criminal status directly via the Dubai Police Smart App (“App”). This update serves as a powerful, simplified tool for residents to check for active circulars and travel bans remotely.

The Smart App Features

The App acts as a centralized dashboard for resident to check any enforced restrictions. It eIectively aggregates data to indentify:Criminal

Circulars: Active police complaints or arrest warrants issued against the user

Existing Travel Bans: This includes bans issued by the Public Prosecution, as well as thosefrom the Rental Dispute Center (RDC), or Civil Courts. Crucially, this captures bans issuedfollowing a judgment, but also precautionary bans issued before judgment (e.g., via an Orderon Petition)

The Practical Risks

While the App is excellent for confirming active restriction, it is not an exhaustive tool for identifying legal risks.
A resident may obtain a “Clear” ...
... status on the Dubai Police Smart App simply because no order has been enforced yet. However, the legal landscape can shift rapidly. For example, travel bans are frequently
requested via an “Order on Petition”, a fast-tracked judicial mechanism that can be reviewed and approved by a judge within mere hours.

Consider this practical risk: A user checks the Dubai Police Smart App the morning of their departure and sees a “Clear” status. Simultaneously, a claimant files an urgent request against them. A few hours later, before their flight takes of, a judge approves the Order on Petition request, activating a travel ban immediately. By the time the user reaches the airport, immigration oIicers have already been informed to deny their exit, despite the green light they received from the App earlier that very day. The legal exposure existed, but the restriction materialized moments after the user checked the app

How to Properly Assess Exposure
Relying solely on a “No Ban” status can be misleading if a case is actively proceeding against the user. To ensure true peace of mind, a deeper level of due diligence is required:

•For rental matters, verify the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) portal.

•For commercial or civil matters, check the Dubai Courts website (‘Case Status’ service) to see if the user is a named party in open litigation.

•Alternatively, the user can visit Al Adheed, an authorized government service center. They provide direct access to judicial services and can assist in verifying case status and inquiries accurately.

•The most reliable method is to engage a lawyer. A legal professional can conduct a comprehensive search across all relevant jurisdictions, including committees and investigation directorates, to identify not just active bans, but pending cases that could lead to one.

Digital Removal of RDC Travel Bans

A recent update has streamlined the removal of travel bans issued through the RDC. Where a ban arises from an RDC enforcement measure, settlement of the full outstanding amount may now result in the immediate digital lifting of the ban, with the updated status reflected directly on the Dubai Police Smart App. This applies to enforced RDC bans following judgment or execution and does not extend to pending or precautionary requests that have not yet been approved

Final Thoughts

While the latest update from the Dubai Police is a commendable step toward digital inclusion and transparency, it should not be viewed as a definitive “all-clear” signal of the user’s legal standing. The App confirms the presence of current restrictions, but not the absence of pending litigation. Therefore, for residents involved in commercial dealings or civil disputes, it is imperative to distinguish between verifying your current status and assessing your actual legal exposure.
MIO & Partners provides clients with specialist legal support, planning, and strategy to achieve optimal outcomes for their business and personal interests in the UAE. Should you require support regarding your travel status or potential liabilities, please contact our Partner, Walid Ahmed, to arrange an initial discussion