From convincing phone calls by fake bank officials to bogus shopping websites designed to steal credit card details, financial scams are growing increasingly sophisticated across the UAE.

In response, federal authorities, the Central Bank, and police forces are rolling out a multi-layered defence strategy designed to intercept fraud before it reaches consumers.

The approach focuses on three core pillars: making scams harder to execute, speeding up real-time detection, and providing direct avenues for victims to report crimes and recover losses.

Central Bank mandates

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has significantly increased compliance requirements for all licensed financial institutions, shifting the burden of fraud detection directly onto banks.

• Phasing Out SMS OTPs: The CBUAE is pushing institutions away from single-factor, SMS-based one-time passwords, favouring biometric verification and dynamic app-based authentications to combat SIM-swap and phishing attacks.
• Anti-Fraud Hub: The regulator established the Central Bank Anti-Fraud Operations Centre (CAFOC) to enable real-time threat monitoring, rapid incident response, and instant data sharing across UAE financial entities.
• Strict monitoring: Banks are legally required to maintain continuous monitoring systems to flag suspicious transactions, combat social engineering, and immediately report unauthorised activities.

Safety for online shoppers

With cybercriminals increasingly targeting online shoppers, the UAE’s consumer protection framework now treats digital storefronts with the same legal scrutiny as physical retail.

• E-Commerce Regulations: Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 sets clear technical standards, legal liabilities, and data protection rules for digital trading platforms operating in the country.
• Tougher Anti-Counterfeit Penalties: Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2023 on Combating Commercial Fraud equips authorities to crack down on fraudulent sellers, corrupt goods, and misleading online commercial practices.
• Statutory Rights: Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 guarantees data privacy, fair dispute settlement, and monetary compensation for consumers facing fraudulent domestic transactions.

Where residents can report scams 

Authorities urge residents never to absorb financial losses quietly. Several official channels provide dispute resolution and criminal reporting:

• Ministry of Economy and Tourism: Handles formal consumer disputes, misleading sales complaints, and requests for product recalls, facilitating amicable settlements or judicial referrals.
• Dubai Police e-Crime Platform: Provides a dedicated portal for reporting cybercrime, identity theft, and electronic banking fraud.
• Local Consumer Protection Departments: Each emirate maintains direct channels to investigate deceptive trade practices and unauthorised merchant activity.

Scam warning: Dubai Police recently warned against fraudulent Consumer Protection websites that lure users into downloading remote-access apps, allowing criminals to hijack devices and drain linked bank accounts.

Do’s and Don’ts to keep your accounts safe

While state-level defences continue to tighten, personal vigilance remains essential:

1. Don’t share details: No bank or government entity will ever ask for your password, PIN, or multi-factor authentication code via phone, email, or WhatsApp.
2. Don’t give remote access: Never download third-party software (such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer) at the request of an unsolicited caller.
3. Do URL check: Check domain spellings carefully and ensure e-commerce platforms use verified, secure payment gateways before entering card numbers.
4. Don’t wait, act immediately: If you suspect compromised details or notice an unauthorised charge, freeze your card via your banking app and notify your bank’s fraud unit without delay.

Drivers heading towards Sharjah University City have been given some relief with the partial reopening of a busy route, but motorists using the Industrial Area 17, Maliha Road corridor should prepare for a new traffic diversion from Wednesday, August 26.

Sharjah’s Roads and Transport Authority has reopened two lanes in each direction along a stretch connecting Industrial Area 17, University Bridge and University City.

The reopening restores part of a key route between University City and the Institutes Land area, which had been affected by ongoing roadworks.

New diversion starts August 26

The reopening comes as another section of the road network is partially closed as part of the Etihad Rail Station Access Roads Project.

From Wednesday, motorists travelling from Industrial Area 17 towards Maliha Road will be diverted onto an alternative route.

Drivers heading to Sharjah English School, Nesto Hypermarket and nearby businesses should therefore allow extra time and follow the signed diversion rather than attempting to use their usual approach.

How long will the diversion last?

The temporary diversion is expected to remain in place for just over five weeks, from August 26 until October 5.

The works are part of the wider infrastructure programme supporting the development of the Etihad Rail network in Sharjah.

While the project is expected to improve connectivity in the long term, drivers can expect changes to traffic movements while the access roads are being constructed.

What drivers should know

• University City route: Two lanes in each direction are now open along the reopened section.
• New closure: The Industrial Area 17-to-Maliha Road route will be partially closed from August 26.
• Affected destinations: Drivers heading towards Sharjah English School, Nesto Hypermarket and nearby businesses should use the designated alternative routes.
• End date: The diversion is scheduled to remain until October 5, 2026.
• Drive carefully: Follow directional signs and safety instructions around the work zones.
• Allow extra time: Traffic conditions may change during peak periods as motorists adjust to the diversion.

The Roads and Transport Authority has published a map showing the approved alternative routes. Drivers are advised to check the diversion before setting off and follow the road signs once they reach the affected area.

One of Dubai’s most recognisable landmarks on Sheikh Zayed Road is set to disappear, with the Toyota Building scheduled for demolition in 2027.

The confirmation comes from the real estate division managing the property, following recent social media videos showing residents moving out and sharing memories of their time in the building.

Tenants with existing rental contracts are understood to be able to remain in the property until December 2026. However, a specified timeline for the demolition has yet to be set according to reports.

A Sheikh Zayed Road landmark since the 1970s

Officially known as the Nasser Rashid Lootah Building, the 15-storey residential building was completed in 1974, at a time when Sheikh Zayed Road looked dramatically different from the densely developed skyline seen today.

Standing at around 65 metres tall, the building was among the first three structures to rise in the area around what was then known as the First Roundabout.

Over the decades, it became an unmistakable part of Dubai’s cityscape.

Why was it called the Toyota Building?

The building earned its famous nickname thanks to the large Toyota sign that once illuminated its rooftop.

The bright red Toyota logo was installed in 1981 and remained a familiar sight above Sheikh Zayed Road for almost four decades.

The sign was eventually removed in 2018 after the advertising agreement ended, briefly changing the appearance of the landmark.

But Dubai residents got a nostalgic surprise in June 2022, when Toyota UAE brought the iconic logo back, restoring one of the building’s most recognisable features after nearly four years.

A piece of old Dubai

The building has housed generations of residents in its one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and has watched Dubai transform from a relatively low-rise city into the global metropolis it is today.

For many people who have lived in or travelled along Sheikh Zayed Road over the years, the Toyota Building has been more than just a residential property — its rooftop sign became part of the visual identity of the road.

With residents preparing to leave by the end of 2026 and demolition planned for 2027, another piece of old Dubai is set to make way for the city’s next chapter.

The demolition will mark the end of more than five decades for a building that became an unlikely icon of Dubai’s rapidly changing skyline.