Today's Edition
DUBAI (ALETIHAD)
Dubai Police have dismantled an eight-member gang accused of robbing luxury oud valued at Dh12 million.
In a statement, Dubai Police said officers arrested four suspects and recovered the stolen luxury oud within 12 hours of the crime being reported. Red Notices have also been issued for the remaining four suspects, including a woman who allegedly posed as a princess during the robbery.
The gang used an elaborate ruse involving a fake princess and a staged VIP reception to deceive the trader. Two gang members visited a luxury oud boutique in a local market, convincing the merchant and shop owner that a prominent princess was coming to Dubai and wished to purchase a substantial quantity of premium oud for a significant sum.
Taken in by the tale, the trader prepared a large selection of his finest products and contacted the suspects, expressing his desire to meet the royal customer.
The ring set up a luxurious residence with security personnel and staged a high-level reception, complete with a lavish dinner, to dupe the merchant.
Dubai Police arrests eight for stealing Dh12 million luxury oud
— Aletihad English (@AletihadEn) May 30, 2026
The arrest was made within 12 hours of the incident.
The group included a woman accused of impersonating a princess as part of the scheme.#AletihadNewsCenter #UAE #Dubai @dubaipolicehq pic.twitter.com/vuZYBIq5w0
During the meeting at the villa, the merchant presented the premium oud he had brought for the princess. The gang members requested that the products be transferred to alternative bags, ready for display. The woman posing as the princess then met the trader, inspected the oud, and confirmed her interest in the purchase.
After she had left, the suspects promised the merchant they would place the oud back into its original packaging, and finalise the transaction on the following day. Instead, they allegedly replaced the valuable oud with ordinary wood.
When the trader discovered the ruse, he attempted to contact the individuals involved but found that their phones had been switched off.
Following a report filed through the Command and Control Centre, the General Department of Criminal Investigation immediately formed a specialised task force. Officers proceesed to the villa where the meeting with the the alleged princess had taken place, and began tracing the suspects' movements using the latest surveillance technologies.
Within 12 hours, security teams located and arrested four of the suspects, and recovered the stolen oud in their possession.
Police also identified the remaining four suspects, including the woman who had impersonated the princess. After determining that the suspects had fled the country, Dubai Police issued Red Notices through international channels to facilitate their arrest and extradition.
