Home > About Our UAE Extradition Legal TeamAbout Our UAE Extradition Legal Team
About UAE Extradition Lawyers
UAE Extradition Lawyers is a specialist international criminal defence practice dedicated exclusively to representing individuals facing extradition proceedings in the United Arab Emirates. We operate as a focused division of Collegium of International Lawyers LP, a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales under number LP023044.
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Our Legal Team
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Our UAE extradition practice draws on a multidisciplinary team of international criminal lawyers, each bringing deep regional knowledge and specialised expertise. Every lawyer you work with has direct, hands-on experience in UAE courts, extradition proceedings, and cross-border legal cooperation.
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Tarek Muhammad
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Senior Partner · UAE & MENA Lead
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\n With over 15 years defending clients across UAE federal courts and international extradition proceedings, Tarek leads our UAE practice. He has represented ultra-high-net-worth individuals in complex multi-jurisdictional cases involving mutual legal assistance requests, INTERPOL coordination, and Federal Supreme Court appeals. His practice focuses on criminal law strategy in high-risk MENA jurisdictions, sanctions compliance, and transnational fraud defence.\n
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Christina Abdel Ahad
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International Extradition Counsel
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\n A dual-qualified lawyer holding Master of Laws degrees in both International Business Law and International Human Rights Law, Christina specialises in cases where human rights law intersects with UAE extradition obligations. She handles Red Notice removal, challenges to extradition requests on dual criminality and political offence grounds, and advises on asset protection in the context of cross-border criminal proceedings. Fluent in Arabic, English, and French — critical for Gulf cooperation requests.\n
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Maryna Mkrtycheva
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International Criminal Law Specialist
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\n A recognised specialist in International Criminal Law with a track record in extradition cases before UAE authorities and parallel proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights. Maryna has contributed to EU human rights legislation and its implementation across Eastern European jurisdictions — experience she applies to complex UAE cases involving clients from CIS countries, Eastern Europe, and former Soviet states seeking to challenge extradition requests grounded in politically motivated prosecutions.\n
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Dr. Anatoliy Yarovyi
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Dr. of Law · ECHR & Interpol Specialist
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\n Dr. Yarovyi holds a Doctor of Law degree, a Master of Laws from Lviv University, and an advanced qualification from Stanford University. He served as a candidate for the European Court of Human Rights bench — bringing unparalleled procedural knowledge of supranational remedies. His UAE practice covers ECHR complaints against extradition, Interpol CCF submissions to challenge Red Notices, reputation protection under international law, and freedom of movement litigation for clients detained or travel-restricted in the UAE.\n
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Anastasia Goma
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Senior Associate · INTERPOL Defence
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\n Anastasia brings nearly seven years of experience within a national judicial system, combined with an advanced Master’s degree in Criminal Law with a focus on criminal justice. Her UAE work centres on INTERPOL Red Notice defence, provisional extradition arrest proceedings, and challenging extradition requests through procedural and evidentiary objections. She is known for her command of criminal procedure across multiple jurisdictions and her ability to coordinate simultaneous proceedings in different countries.\n
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Hanna Sianko
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International Law Counsel (LSE)
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\n Hanna holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics (LSE) with a focus on international human rights violations, and brings practical experience from the Community Legal Advice Center in London. Her UAE practice covers human rights arguments in extradition proceedings — particularly non-refoulement, fair trial guarantees, and the application of ECHR standards to UAE extradition cooperation with European countries. She has represented clients in international moot courts and cross-border advisory roles in both the UK and the United States.\n
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Our practice exists for one purpose: to defend clients against extradition requests received by the UAE from foreign states. This singular focus distinguishes us from general criminal law firms and international practices that treat extradition as one service among many. For us, UAE extradition defence is not a practice area—it is our entire practice.
From our primary office in Dubai and our London headquarters, we serve clients of all nationalities who find themselves subject to extradition proceedings within UAE jurisdiction. Whether you are a UAE resident, a business visitor, or a transit passenger who has been detained at Dubai International Airport, our team provides immediate legal representation at every stage of the extradition process.
The UAE has emerged as a critical jurisdiction for international extradition matters. Its position as a global business hub, combined with its extensive treaty network and cooperation with Interpol, means that individuals from across the world may face extradition proceedings in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, or any other Emirate. Understanding this unique legal landscape requires dedicated expertise that can only be developed through concentrated practice in this specific field.
We represent clients facing requests from common law jurisdictions, civil law systems, and hybrid legal frameworks. Our case portfolio spans requests from European Union member states, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, Pakistan, China, and dozens of other nations. Each requesting state presents distinct legal challenges, procedural requirements, and defence opportunities that inform our strategic approach.
Our Specialisation
UAE Extradition Lawyers maintains an exclusive focus on extradition defence within the Emirates. We do not accept general criminal defence matters, civil litigation, commercial disputes, or family law cases. This deliberate limitation allows us to develop and maintain expertise at a level that generalist firms cannot match.
Our specialisation encompasses extradition requests from all countries that seek extraditions from the UAE—currently more than 99 nations with whom the Emirates maintains formal or informal extradition arrangements. This includes both treaty-based extraditions, where bilateral or multilateral agreements govern the process, and non-treaty extraditions, which proceed through diplomatic channels and discretionary cooperation.
Treaty cases require detailed analysis of the specific agreement between the UAE and the requesting state. Each treaty contains its own provisions regarding dual criminality, political offence exceptions, nationality bars, statute of limitations, and procedural requirements. Our knowledge of these instruments, developed through years of active casework, enables us to identify grounds for challenging requests that might be overlooked by lawyers unfamiliar with the specific treaty framework in question.
Non-treaty extradition requests present different challenges and opportunities. The UAE retains significant discretion in these matters, and successful defence often depends on demonstrating why cooperation would not serve justice or would violate the requested person’s fundamental rights. We have extensive experience presenting these arguments before UAE authorities and courts.
Interpol Red Notice challenges form an integral component of our practice. Many individuals facing UAE extradition are also subject to Red Notices circulated through Interpol’s international alert system. We coordinate defence strategies that address both the UAE extradition proceedings and the underlying Red Notice, filing applications with Interpol’s Commission for the Control of Files where appropriate. This parallel approach ensures that a successful extradition defence is not undermined by continued Interpol circulation, which could expose the client to detention in other jurisdictions.
Preventive legal work represents a growing portion of our practice. Clients who learn they may be subject to forthcoming extradition requests—through informal channels, media reports, or legal notices in other jurisdictions—can benefit substantially from early engagement. We prepare preventive memoranda, establish legal presence in the UAE, and develop defence strategies before any arrest occurs. This proactive approach consistently produces better outcomes than reactive defence initiated only after detention.
Our Approach
Early intervention is the cornerstone of effective extradition defence. The decisions made in the first hours and days following arrest—or ideally, before arrest occurs—shape the entire trajectory of the case. Our practice is structured to provide immediate, substantive legal support from the moment a client contacts us.
When a client is already detained, we mobilise within hours. Our team conducts a comprehensive case assessment within 24 hours of engagement, identifying the requesting state, the underlying allegations, the applicable legal framework, and the most promising grounds for contesting extradition. This rapid analysis enables us to advise on immediate tactical decisions, including bail applications and initial court appearances.
For clients who contact us before arrest, we employ a preventive approach that significantly improves outcomes. This includes establishing a documented legal presence in the UAE, preparing detailed submissions to relevant authorities, and developing comprehensive defence materials that can be deployed immediately if detention occurs. Clients who engage us early avoid the disadvantages of building a defence from a position of custody.
Our defence strategy typically operates on multiple parallel tracks. We challenge the extradition request itself on substantive and procedural grounds while simultaneously pursuing bail or conditional release. Where a Red Notice exists, we prepare and file applications with Interpol’s Commission for the Control of Files to seek its removal or correction. These workstreams proceed concurrently, each reinforcing the others.
Coordination with local UAE counsel is essential to our approach. While our team provides strategic direction and specialist extradition expertise, certain procedural steps require representation by lawyers admitted to practice before specific UAE courts. We maintain established relationships with carefully selected local advocates who execute court appearances, document filings, and procedural applications under our supervision. This collaborative model combines international extradition expertise with local procedural competence.
We also coordinate with legal teams in other jurisdictions as case circumstances require. Effective extradition defence often depends on obtaining evidence or legal opinions from the requesting state, challenging parallel proceedings in other countries, or managing related matters in third jurisdictions. Our international network enables this multi-jurisdictional coordination.
Areas of Practice
Extradition Defence from the UAE: Our core practice involves contesting extradition requests received by UAE authorities from foreign states. We represent clients through all stages of the process, from initial arrest through provisional detention hearings, formal extradition proceedings, appeals, and applications to the Minister of Justice. Our defence work covers requests from treaty and non-treaty countries, addressing issues including dual criminality, political offence exceptions, human rights concerns, procedural irregularities, and other grounds for refusal.
Interpol Red Notice Removal: We prepare and submit applications to Interpol’s Commission for the Control of Files seeking the deletion of Red Notices that violate Interpol’s rules. Grounds for removal include predominantly political motivation, abuse of the Red Notice system, lack of proper legal basis, disproportionality, and other violations of Interpol’s constitution and data processing rules. Red Notice challenges are frequently coordinated with UAE extradition defence to provide comprehensive protection.
Mutual Legal Assistance Defence: Foreign states often seek evidence from the UAE through mutual legal assistance channels before or alongside extradition requests. We challenge improper MLA requests and advise clients on their rights when UAE authorities seek to execute foreign evidence requests. This includes resisting overbroad requests, protecting privileged materials, and ensuring compliance with applicable legal frameworks.
Asset Protection During Extradition Proceedings: Extradition requests frequently accompany foreign asset freezing orders, confiscation proceedings, or informal pressure on UAE financial institutions. We advise clients on protecting their legitimate assets during extradition proceedings, liaising with banking counsel and ensuring that asset preservation measures comply with UAE law and do not exceed the proper scope of international cooperation.
Fugitive Advisory and Preventive Planning: Individuals who have reason to believe they may face extradition requests benefit from early legal advice. We provide confidential consultations on jurisdictional risk, prepare preventive legal strategies, and advise on legitimate options for managing exposure to extradition proceedings. This advisory work helps clients make informed decisions about travel, residence, and business activities.
Why Choose Us
Our sole focus on UAE extradition distinguishes us from every other law firm operating in this space. General international law firms treat extradition as one service among hundreds; we treat it as our entire reason for existence. This concentration produces expertise, relationships, and case knowledge that cannot be replicated by lawyers who handle extradition matters occasionally.
We maintain a documented track record in contested extradition proceedings. While professional conduct rules limit the specific claims we can make about case outcomes, prospective clients are welcome to discuss our experience during initial consultations. We represent clients in cases that proceed to contested hearings, not merely cases that settle or conclude through negotiation.
Our team operates in English, Russian, Arabic, and French, enabling direct communication with clients from the regions that generate the majority of UAE extradition cases. This linguistic capability extends to document review, witness preparation, and communication with authorities in multiple jurisdictions.
We maintain 24/7 emergency availability for clients who are arrested or detained. Extradition arrests frequently occur at airports, during early morning hours, or at other times when ordinary law firms are closed. Our emergency contact system ensures that detained clients can reach qualified legal counsel immediately, regardless of the time or day.
We offer transparent fixed-fee packages for initial consultation and case assessment. Clients who contact us receive clear information about costs before any fees are incurred. This transparency enables informed decision-making and avoids the uncertainty of open-ended hourly billing during the critical early stages of a case.
Our Office Locations
Dubai Office (Primary): Our principal UAE presence is located at IFZA Business Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis. This facility serves as our operational base for all UAE extradition matters, enabling immediate response to client needs across the Emirates.
London Office: Collegium of International Lawyers LP maintains its registered office at 85 Great Portland Street, First Floor, London W1W 7LT. Our London presence supports coordination with UK legal proceedings, European matters, and clients based in Western time zones.
International Availability: We serve clients worldwide through secure video conference facilities. Prospective and current clients may consult with our lawyers regardless of their location, and we regularly coordinate with legal teams across multiple jurisdictions through encrypted communication channels.
Contact Us for a Confidential Consultation
If you are facing extradition proceedings in the UAE, have been notified of an Interpol Red Notice, or have reason to believe you may be subject to a forthcoming extradition request, we encourage you to contact us for a confidential consultation.
Early engagement produces better outcomes. Contact our team through our secure enquiry form, by telephone, or via WhatsApp to discuss your situation with a specialist extradition lawyer.
All consultations are conducted under strict legal privilege and confidentiality protections.
