This Is How Convicted British Criminals Bought Luxury Properties in Dubai from Prison

In a striking revelation, a British money launderer has been identified as purchasing two opulent apartments in Dubai while incarcerated in a prison in northern England.

This individual is part of a larger contingent of British criminals who have clandestinely funneled millions into the UAE’s real estate market.

The Times conducted an investigation that uncovered over £200 million worth of properties acquired by individuals with criminal convictions in the UK and those who have defaulted on their debts.

Untraceable Scams

In certain instances, it seems that British officials were unable to locate these assets while attempting to trace the financial activities of these individuals.

Among those who have made investments in Dubai’s property market are a fraudster from Essex who swindled savings from the elderly through a telephone scam, and individuals connected to a criminal group responsible for embezzling £12 million from the NHS and other public institutions.

Further scrutiny reveals that Abid Hussain, another British national with a criminal record, secured £1.6 million worth of property in Dubai following his 2013 incarceration for laundering drug trade proceeds.

Subsequent to his trial, the National Crime Agency aimed to confiscate his assets, resulting in a court-ordered forfeiture of £313,000, which Hussain fulfilled.

However, documents reviewed by The Times indicate that the seized amount represents only a fraction of his wealth.

While serving his sentence at Wellstone prison in West Yorkshire, Hussain managed to acquire two apartments in Dubai valued at £1.1 million.

The government now faces mounting pressure to investigate the shortcomings of the authorities in tracking the international financial dealings of criminals.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow prosecutor, has called for an immediate examination of the system’s vulnerabilities, criticizing the notion that a convicted felon could orchestrate such property transactions from behind bars, thereby rendering the asset recovery process ineffective. She urges swift governmental action in response to these findings.

The data leak from Dubai, which includes comprehensive records of property ownership, transactions, and rentals, has been meticulously analyzed by The Times and other global media entities across 58 countries.

This analysis was facilitated by access granted by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, a consortium of investigative journalists, and the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, a research-focused nonprofit organization.

The leak has led to the identification of 57 criminals, either British nationals or foreign nationals convicted in the UK, along with 105 individuals from the UK who are bankrupt, barred directors, tax evaders, or under investigation, all of whom have acquired property in the UAE.

While the leaked data does not specify the origins of the funds used for these purchases, it is possible that the properties were acquired with legitimate finances.

UAE Tracking

Dubai remains an appealing destination for investors seeking to avoid public scrutiny, including high-profile and affluent individuals who prefer to keep their residential details private.

In response to the leaks, police forces and the National Crime Agency, which possess the authority to initiate confiscation of criminal proceeds through the judiciary, have stated that they are conducting investigations and may pursue additional financial recoveries from the implicated individuals.

Successive British administrations have committed to enhancing cooperation with UAE authorities to tackle “global challenges,” particularly in strengthening oversight of transnational monetary transactions.

In September 2021, Boris Johnson, the then-Prime Minister, announced a new agreement following discussions in London with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former Crown Prince and current ruler of Abu Dhabi.

The National Crime Agency asserts that its investigators were cognizant of all Dubai-based properties owned by criminals that were pertinent to the money confiscation efforts, and these assets were considered in the recovery attempts.

The agency clarified that forfeiture orders could encompass any of the defendant’s assets, potentially leaving others to compensate for the seized funds.

In the case of Hussein, the forfeiture order matched the sum adjudged to be his personal gain from criminal activities, and law enforcement did not pursue charges against assets unrelated to the criminal proceeds.

An agency spokesperson highlighted the “positive relationship with many international partners” that aids in tracing the financial trails of criminals, noting improved cooperation with the UAE in recent years, surpassing that with some other nations.

The spokesperson acknowledged the ongoing need for collaborative efforts to address the menace of illegal financing that detrimentally affects both countries.

The Dubai Land Registry, once known for its opacity, has made strides toward transparency, yet it remains challenging to ascertain property ownership by merely searching an address.

An Emirati official emphasized the nation’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the global financial system, stating that the UAE actively collaborates with international allies in the pursuit of global criminals.

In a recent commendation, the International Financial Action Task Force, the global authority on anti-money laundering measures, acknowledged the significant advancements made by the UAE in this domain.

Criminal Activities

The painstakingly verified records have laid bare the connections between high-value real estate in the emirate and a roster of individuals, including convicted felons, international fugitives, and sanctioned figures, many of whom have significant ties to the United Kingdom.

Among the notable revelations is the case of Sami Raja, an Essex native whose ostentatious displays of wealth on social media belied his criminal activities.

Convicted in 2019 on multiple counts of fraud and money laundering, Raja, along with accomplices, defrauded over a hundred victims — predominantly seniors — through a sophisticated phone scam involving counterfeit carbon credits, amassing illicit gains of £2.4 million.

Despite his arrest in 2013 and subsequent flight to Dubai in 2017, Raja continued to flaunt a lavish lifestyle online. Following his conviction in absentia and extradition from Greece in 2020, he was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment and ordered to repay a portion of his ill-gotten wealth.

Investigations have revealed that Raja managed to acquire two properties in Dubai’s prime locations after his initial arrest, which were later sold for a sum that far exceeded the court-ordered restitution.

The City of London Police, cognizant of Raja’s real estate holdings in Dubai, have affirmed their ongoing efforts to recover assets and redistribute them to the victims. Currently serving his sentence, Raja is anticipated to be eligible for parole later this year.

Parallel to Raja’s case is that of Imtiaz Khoda, another British national who, despite his criminal record, has made substantial investments in Dubai’s real estate sector.

Khoda, implicated in a scheme that defrauded the NHS and other public entities of over £12 million, was found to have acquired or made payments toward 11 properties in Dubai, even as he claimed an inability to repay his criminal proceeds in a UK court.

The subterfuge employed by Khoda’s group involved the falsification of documents to divert funds intended for public projects. Despite a court order to repay over £4 million, Khoda’s restitution has fallen significantly short, leading to additional penalties.

Yet, he has been released without fulfilling the majority of the debt, with recent legal proceedings resulting in a reduction of the amount owed.