UAE justice minister says borders must not protect criminals — The National

UAE Minister of Justice Abdullah Al Nuaimi said at the UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi that state borders must not become a shield for criminals or their assets. He stressed that no country can counter transnational crime on its own, as money, assets and evidence can move between different jurisdictions.

As The National reports, Al Nuaimi cited the case of Daniel Kinahan as an example. The 49-year-old Kinahan faces charges in Ireland related to organised crime, including directing a criminal organisation, murder and drug trafficking.

Extradition to Ireland

According to the minister, Kinahan was detained in the Emirates within 48 hours of a request from the Irish side. The arrest took place on April 17 with the involvement of Dubai Police in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Interior.

Kinahan's extradition to Ireland on August 9 followed a ruling by the Dubai Court of Cassation. It was carried out under the extradition treaty between the UAE and Ireland, which entered into force in May 2025. He is currently being held in a high-security prison in Ireland and is awaiting trial, which is expected to begin next year.

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In 2022, the United States publicly identified Kinahan and his organisation and imposed sanctions against them. According to the publication, an arrest warrant in this case was issued on April 15.

Agreements and extradition requests

Al Nuaimi said that the UAE is a party to 16 universal and regional multilateral agreements and also has more than 140 bilateral agreements in force with 53 countries. They cover extradition, mutual legal assistance, asset freezing and confiscation, evidence gathering and the transfer of convicted persons.

According to the minister, the UAE received 576 extradition requests in 2025. Courts issued decisions in 178 cases, while other requests were being considered or were awaiting additional information. Al Nuaimi also mentioned cooperation with French authorities in the case of four individuals: in November 2025, it made it possible to identify and trace assets, as well as seize 82 properties in the UAE.