ABU DHABI // The UAE and British governments have agreed to improve the enforcement of treaties combating the growing sophistication of global financial crime.
The two countries say they are committed to rigorously applying a series of new treaties covering extradition and legal assistance intended to help bring to justice criminals involved in tax fraud and money laundering and other serious crimes.
While the formal ratification process for the treaties was finalised earlier this year, authorities are now co-operating to bring them to life.
A spokesman for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in Britain said a "substantial" amount of the estimated £2 billion (Dh13.5bn) lost annually through VAT fraud in the UK was laundered in the UAE.
At the peak of the problem, a large proportion of the money defrauded from the British government passed through the UAE.
Edward Oakden, the British ambassador to the UAE, said the most serious crimes included "fraud against our tax system and other forms of financial crime, such as the laundering of drug assets".
"With Dubai being such an important financial centre, like the City of London, we inevitably have to guard against our facilities being used by money launderers," he said."The key is to have the instruments in place and the practice of co-operation that acts as a deterrent. Both ourselves and UAE authorities are committed to ensuring that we are not perceived by criminals as a weak link."
These deterrents include a bilateral agreement that allows extradition to be requested for any offence that carries a sentence of a year or more in prison in both the UK and the UAE.
If, for example, an Emirati commits a serious crime such as fraud or murder in Britain and then flees to the UAE, the agreement will allow the UK to obtain the extradition of the individual.
A provision in the agreement will allow the UAE to obtain similar extraditions only if the UK has assurances the suspect will not face the death penalty here.
A Briton wanted by Dubai Police and Interpol for allegedly swindling property investors out of millions of dirhams could become the first person to be extradited to the UAE from Briton.
Emad Ayoub, 53, was accused of fleeing Dubai in 2006, leaving behind an unfinished 15-storey apartment block in Dubai Marina after investors had paid him more than Dh36 million (US$9.8m) for units.
Meanwhile, another treaty on mutual legal assistance in civil, criminal and commercial cases essentially allows greater sharing of evidence, which in cases of fraud may include bank account details or telephone records.
The agreements would also minimise instances of criminals escaping punishment because of differences in the countries' legal systems.
While the formal ratification process for the treaties was finalised earlier this year, authorities are now co-operating to bring them to life.
"It's making them work in practice, making them come alive so they aren't just dry legal instruments, but give us the wherewithal to bring criminals to justice," said Mr Oakden, who met Dr Hadef bin Jua'an al Dhaheri, the Minister of Justice, last week to discuss ways of achieving this.
Authorities in both countries are currently familiarising themselves with each other's legal procedures and are holding workshops to improve co-operation.
If, for example, Britain requested information from the UAE relating to a crime, the request would go through an agreed process that would make it easier for the UAE to respond.
Co-operation between the two countries is becoming increasingly urgent as the number of UK citizens in the UAE swells. There are about 120,000 Britons in the country, approximately 100,000 living in Dubai, and growing numbers of Emiratis in the UK. With greater concentrations comes a greater instance of "bad apples", Mr Oakden said.
A concerted campaign by British and UAE authorities has already reduced cases of VAT fraud in the past two years. The recent treaties are expected to smooth the investigation and trial procedure of these crimes.
rditcham@thenational.ae
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More coverage from the Future Forum
Game Of Thrones Season Seven: A Bluffers Guide
Want to sound on message about the biggest show on television without actually watching it? Best not to get locked into the labyrinthine tales of revenge and royalty: as Isaac Hempstead Wright put it, all you really need to know from now on is that there’s going to be a huge fight between humans and the armies of undead White Walkers.
The season ended with a dragon captured by the Night King blowing apart the huge wall of ice that separates the human world from its less appealing counterpart. Not that some of the humans in Westeros have been particularly appealing, either.
Anyway, the White Walkers are now free to cause any kind of havoc they wish, and as Liam Cunningham told us: “Westeros may be zombie land after the Night King has finished.” If the various human factions don’t put aside their differences in season 8, we could be looking at The Walking Dead: The Medieval Years.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
MATCH STATS
Wolves 0
Aston Villa 1 (El Ghazi 90 4' pen)
Red cards: Joao Moutinho (Wolves); Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)
Man of the match: Emi Martinez (Aston Villa)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
The specs: 2018 Bentley Bentayga V8
Price, base: Dh853,226
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 550hp @ 6,000pm
Torque: 770Nm @ 1,960rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L / 100km