Making sure crime does not pay. Recent efforts to tackle corruption in Dubai: the 2016 creation of the Dubai Economic Security Centre
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMLC-10-2017-0060 |
| Date | 01 October 2018 |
| Pages | 555-566 |
| Published date | 01 October 2018 |
| Author | Tanya Gibbs |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & Finance,Financial risk/company failure,Financial compliance/regulation,Financial crime |
Making sure crime does not pay
Recent efforts to tackle corruption in Dubai: the
2016 creation of the Dubai Economic
Security Centre
Tanya Gibbs
University of London, London, UK
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to analyse a new piece of Dubai legislation, Dubai Law No. (4) of 2016: The
Dubai Economic SecurityCentre (DESC) Law, in respect of its role and impact on economic crime mitigation
in the emirate and in the countryas a whole.
Design/methodology/approach –The jurisdiction’svarious risks and vulnerabilities were examinedto
determineweaknesses and gaps in the current legislative and regulatory framework.
Findings –The findings highlight that despite numerous legislative efforts targeting economic crime,
bringing economic criminals to justice has remained an issue in Dubai. Creation of the Dubai Economic
SecurityCentre (DESC) may mark a significant change in that emirate’s approach to tackling this issue.
Research limitations/implications –Though the DESC itself is (as of this writing) still in a formative
state, it is clearlyintended to be a comprehensive response to expedite and streamlineinvestigative processes
and mitigatethe multi-jurisdictionalproblems with which law enforcement has hithertocontended.
Practical implications –The DESC is also intended to servenot only as an informational clearinghouse
but also as an organisationalentity with significant roles in law enforcementand even legislation.
Social implications –Regardless of its ambitious and promising results, the effectiveness of its
organisationalstructure and performance is yet to be determined.
Originality/value –This researchcan be beneficial for the government officials in charge of establishment
and launch of the DESC, as well as for future research as it points to its potential ambiguities and
misinterpretations.
Keywords Economic crime, Dubai Economic Security Centre
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Several factors have shaped the nature of economic crime in Dubai, creating risk exposure for its
sustainable economic development. While economic crimes including fraud, breach of trust,
bribery and money laundering were punishablebylawintheUAEasearlyas1987,the
Government of Dubai put forth new anti-corruption legislation and other measures recently,
addressing systematic vulnerabilities and strengthening enforcement of these laws in the emirate.
The new legal initiative is particularly important because in general, bringingcriminals
to justice for economic crimein Dubai has long been seen as problematic. In a 2015 interview
with Dr Ibrahim Al Mulla, a Dubai Police official, he estimated that since 2004, while
thousands of allegations of money laundering had been passed on to the police, he knew of
only a handful that prosecutors actuallybrought to trial. According to him, “It’s easy to get
suspicious cases to the policebut most of the cases fail to reach the court. Some of them don’t
even make it to the prosecution. The reason couldbe the lack of evidence or a failure in one
of the regulatory steps”[1].
Recent efforts
to tackle
corruption
555
Journalof Money Laundering
Control
Vol.21 No. 4, 2018
pp. 555-566
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1368-5201
DOI 10.1108/JMLC-10-2017-0060
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