Two men ordered to pay investor Dh4.7 million over fake UAE Golden Visa

A Dubai court has ordered two men to pay Dh4.7 million ($1.28 million) to an investor they defrauded by falsely promising to secure him a UAE Golden Visa, Khaleej Times reported.

The Dubai Civil Court ruled in the investor's favour, ordering the men to return Dh4.4 million they had obtained from him and pay an additional Dh300,000 in compensation for financial and emotional harm.

The defendants were also ordered to cover legal fees, interest and court costs, with both held jointly liable for the losses.

How did the Golden Visa fraud take place?

According to court documents, the two men approached the investor with an offer to secure a 10-year UAE Golden Visa through what they described as official investment channels.

Trusting their claims, the investor transferred Dh4.4 million to them. However, after receiving the money, the men cut off contact without submitting any residency applications or processing the promised documentation.

They instead kept the money for themselves, prompting the investor to report the matter to Dubai Police.

How did the investor pursue the case?

A criminal investigation followed, with prosecutors charging the two men with fraud and unlawfully appropriating funds belonging to another person.

The Dubai Criminal Court examined bank transfer records, written communications and investigation findings before finding both men guilty.

The investor subsequently filed a civil lawsuit to recover his money and seek compensation for his losses.

The civil court held that the criminal conviction established the unlawful conduct and ordered the defendants to jointly repay the full Dh4.4 million, along with Dh300,000 in compensation for material and moral damages.