Abu Dhabi Police have warned residents to stay alert as online fraud and financial scams tend to increase during the salary payment period.

Authorities said fraudsters are taking advantage of payday by using fake advertisements, phishing links and fraudulent offers to steal money and personal information.

What to watch out for

According to police, scammers are posing as legitimate businesses and organisations to trick victims through:

• Fake property rental and sale listings.
• Bogus residency and visa services.
• Fraudulent job and labour recruitment offers.
• Fake insurance products.
• False advertisements for vehicles allegedly seized by Abu Dhabi Customs.
• Fake investment opportunities.
• Counterfeit event tickets.
• Websites impersonating government agencies and well-known organisations.
• Requests to download remote access apps.
• Demands for advance payments or deposits for goods, services, training courses or fake certificates.

How to stay safe

Abu Dhabi Police urged residents to:

• Never share bank account details, passwords or one-time passwords (OTPs).
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links or responding to unsolicited offers.
• Verify sellers before transferring money or paying deposits.
• Use only official websites and mobile apps for government services.

Residents who suspect they have been targeted by fraud are encouraged to report incidents through the Aman service.

Residents who have lost personal belongings in Dubai no longer need to visit a police service centre to collect recovered items.

Dubai Police has launched a new delivery service that allows customers to have lost-and-found items sent directly to their home or workplace anywhere in the UAE.

How the Service Works

The new initiative allows residents to request delivery of belongings recovered and verified by Dubai Police.

Customers can arrange the service by contacting the Dubai Police Call Centre on 901, after which the recovered item can be delivered to an address in any of the UAE’s seven emirates.

Making Police Services More Convenient

Dubai Police said the service is part of its ongoing efforts to make government services faster, smarter and more customer-friendly.

By removing the need for people to visit a service centre, the initiative aims to save time and simplify the process of reclaiming lost property.

The move also supports Dubai’s wider smart government strategy, which focuses on expanding digital services, improving customer satisfaction and making public services more accessible.

A Dubai-based student robotics team has put the UAE on the global STEM map after securing a major award at one of the world’s leading robotics competitions and earning an invitation to an elite international event in the US.

Team UFORCE, representing Unique World Robotics (UWR), finished third in the prestigious Inspire Award category at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Michiana Premier Event, held in Indiana from June 18 to 21.

The Inspire Award is FTC’s highest judged honour, recognising excellence in robot design, engineering, programming, innovation, teamwork and community impact. Team UFORCE competed against 96 top robotics teams from around the world.

Invited to exclusive global event

Following its strong performance, Team UFORCE also competed at the Multinational Tech Invitational (MTI) in Maryland, an invitation-only competition featuring just 44 of the world’s best FTC teams selected from more than 11,000 active teams globally.

Showcasing UAE STEM talent

The 16-member team includes students from schools across Dubai and Sharjah, highlighting the UAE’s growing talent in robotics and engineering.

“This achievement reflects the dedication, innovation and perseverance of our students and mentors,” said Bansan Thomas George, founder of Unique World Robotics.

Head coach Mohammed Mukhtar said competing on global platforms demonstrates the ability of young innovators from the UAE to excel internationally.

Team captain Aarnav Bhargava described the competitions as a valuable opportunity to develop technical skills, teamwork and confidence while competing against some of the world’s best robotics teams.

About FIRST Tech Challenge

FIRST Tech Challenge is one of the world’s largest youth robotics programmes and is supported by organisations including Google, Amazon and NASA.

The programme also offers students access to scholarships, mentorship opportunities and pathways to leading universities and STEM institutions.

The achievement also reflects the growing impact of firstrobotics.ae, a UAE volunteer-led robotics community that supports students interested in robotics, artificial intelligence and STEM education.