Dubai Police foil gang attempt to steal AED 12 million worth of oud

Dubai Police have foiled a major robbery that involved eight suspects attempting to steal rare luxury oud valued at AED 12 million.

The incident occurred after two of the suspects had entered a local market, claiming that a prominent princess arriving in Dubai wants to buy extremely valuable oud.

The merchant then arranged the oud supply and met the suspects at a disguised modern villa, with personal guards, a sophisticated reception, and a lavish dinner to make the scheme convincing. 

The disguised gang included a woman who was impersonating a princess as part of the scheme.

While the valuable oud was being presented, the gang requested that the merchant to move the large quantity into different bags "more befitting the princess's status," the police stated. 

After meeting the alleged princess, the seller was asked to wait while the suspects replaced the luxury oud with a replica containing normal wood and returned the bags, promising they would get back the following day.

"The next day, the merchant tried to call them, but their phones were switched off. When he opened the bags, he was shocked to discover he had been robbed – the oud had been replaced with wood,” the police noted. 

The seller immediately reported the theft, and the General Department of Criminal Investigation launched a full investigation of the villa through a specialised team.

Within 12 hours, the authorities managed to seize the oud, which was moved to an apartment by the gang, before they could dispose of it.

They also arrested four of the eight suspects were arrested by the authorities, with an Interpol red notice shared to catch the identified remaining four members who had fled the country, including the woman who pretended to be a princess.

@DubaiPoliceHQ arrested eight suspects within 12 hours after they allegedly stole a rare luxury oud valued at AED 12 million. The group included a woman accused of impersonating a princess as part of the scheme. pic.twitter.com/qPI9TI6Kf8

— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) May 30, 2026