Police officials in the UAE had a busy year nabbing criminal masterminds and international drug lords.
Dubai Police played a part in catching notorious fugitives on international most-wanted lists.
The National put together a list of some of the biggest crime bosses caught in the UAE in recent times.
1. Moufide ‘Mouf’ Bouchibi, also known as 'the Ghost'
Last week, Dubai Police caught the French drug dealer and international crime kingpin Moufide ‘Mouf’ Bouchibi, also known as 'the Ghost'.
He was arrested in Dubai where he was travelling under a false identity, after 10 years on the run.
Dubai Police received a Red Notice from Interpol against Bouchibi before he arrived in the emirate.
Bouchibi, 39, used forged identification to evade detection, but Dubai police used artificial intelligence technology to track him down.
French detectives had only an image of Mr Bouchibi from more than 20 years ago.
Nevertheless, Dubai Police analysed pictures and videos of the suspect, and worked out his whereabouts.
Bouchibi, was involved in drug trafficking and smuggling operations across Europe with an estimated annual street value of €70 million ($82.6m).
He was tried in a French court in 2015 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
2. Ramon Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi
Nigerian Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, is a social media celebrity with millions of followers.
The erstwhile influencer often posted photographs while posing in front of luxury cars or while boarding private jets, until 2020, when he was extradited to the US after being arrested during a raid in Dubai in June.
Mr Abbas allegedly conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from "business email compromise" frauds and other scams.
He and a partner were also accused of plotting to steal £100 million ($140 million) from an unnamed football club in the English Premier League.
US officials reported in February 2021 that Mr Abbas allegedly helped North Korean hackers launder money stolen from a Maltese bank.
Mr Abbas is in US custody awaiting trial.
3. Amir Faten Mekky
Amir Faten Mekky, an international gang leader wanted by Interpol, was arrested in Dubai in June 2020.
The Danish crime boss was arrested during a sting operation.
Special forces raided his residence after he was pictured discarding rubbish outside his home.
Mr Mekky is wanted by Spanish authorities for two murders and a series of arson attacks.
He is also associated with one of the world's most notorious international criminals, Radwan Al Taghi, the head of the Angels of Death gang, who was arrested in Dubai in December 2019 and handed over to the Netherlands.
Mr Mekky was further alleged to be a central figure in the underworld in Malmo, a city in the south of Swedenk.
4. Leon Cullen
Leon Cullen, one of the UK's most wanted men, was arrested in Dubai in January 2020, and returned to the UK in February 2021 to face trial.
Mr Cullen, 33, was extradited from the UAE three years after he left the UK for Dubai.
He was detained in a joint operation by UAE police, Britain's National Crime Agency, and Interpol.
Mr Cullen, from Warrington in north-west England, was extradited to Britain by officers from the National Extradition Unit.
He was charged with being the head of a crime group responsible for supplying firearms and drugs.
At the time, senior British police officials thanked the UAE for its help in his arrest and extradition.
5. Afzal Khan
Afzal Khan, a former car showroom owner who once appeared in the Real Housewives of New Jersey, was accused of fraud by the FBI.
He was apprehended in the UAE, after he surrendered himself at the US embassy in Abu Dhabi, and was flown from the UAE to New Jersey in February 2020.
He had been on the FBI's most wanted white-collar criminals list for five years.
Mr Khan, 37, originally from Scotland, was sought by the authorities over an alleged $1.7 million luxury car scam.
He was accused of conning wealthy customers and companies using his Emporio Motor Group dealership in New Jersey.
FBI documents and reports in the United States said the huge fraud involved Lamborghinis, Porsches, Rolls-Royces and bank loans, and at least 75 victims.
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Temple numbers
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Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
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First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Results
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
SPECS
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Brief scores:
Arsenal 4
Xhaka 25', Lacazette 55', Ramsey 79', Aubameyang 83'
Fulham 1
Kamara 69'
