Dubai loses safe-haven status for Albanian fugitives

Dubai is no longer seen as a safe haven for Albanian fugitives after a series of extraditions to Tirana.

Albanian suspects had long used the United Arab Emirates to avoid arrest because Albania and the UAE did not have an extradition treaty.

That changed after talks between the two governments and cooperation through Interpol.

The first extradition came in March 2024, in a call-centre fraud case.

Since then, 16 people have been extradited in 2025 and 2026, most of them wanted by Albania’s special anti-corruption and organised crime prosecutors.

They include suspects accused of murder, drug trafficking, organised crime and fraud.

Another suspect, wanted over drug trafficking and organised crime allegations, is expected to be extradited next.