Humaid bin Rashid Issues Law on the Disposal of Found Property and Abandoned Assets in the Emirate of Ajman

His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, has issued Law No. (2) of 2026 concerning the disposal of found property and abandoned assets in the Emirate of Ajman.

The Law defines found property as movable funds and items that may be legally possessed, which hold intrinsic value or value to their owner, that are lost by their owner without the intention of relinquishing them, and are discovered within the Emirate, excluding stray animals.

The Law further defines abandoned assets as movable funds and items that may be legally possessed and hold intrinsic value, which have been explicitly or implicitly relinquished by their owner or the person legally entitled to possess them with the intention of abandonment, excluding stray animals.

The Law specifies the duties and powers of Ajman Police, which include receiving reports of loss or discovery of found property and abandoned assets in the Emirate, receiving and safeguarding found property and abandoned assets in an appropriate location, announcing the existence of found property through appropriate means, and estimating the costs of safekeeping, announcement and disposal of found property.

Ajman Police shall also establish dedicated registers recording the data and descriptions of found property and abandoned assets, the date and time of discovery or receipt, the location where they were found or left, the finder’s details, and any other information determined by the Police. The Police shall dispose of found property and abandoned assets in accordance with the provisions of this Law and the decisions issued thereunder, and may engage any government or private entity to manage the operations of safekeeping, sale or disposal of found property and abandoned assets subject to this Law.

Pursuant to the Law, the finder is obligated to hand over found property to the Police within no more than 48 hours from the date of discovery, unless the finder has an excuse accepted by the Police, and shall not dispose of or possess it with the intention of ownership.

The finder is also required to cooperate with Ajman Police to enable it to apply the provisions of the Law. Found property shall be received by the Police pursuant to a receipt record containing a description of the found property and its condition, the finder’s details, the date and location of discovery, and any other data determined by the Police.

According to the Law, the owner of found property has the right to reclaim it before disposal from Ajman Police, and to claim its price within five years in the event it has been sold by the Police. If the found property has been disposed of without consideration in accordance with the provisions of this Law, its owner shall have the right to trace it in the possession of third parties. Found property or its price shall be delivered, where multiple claimants exist, to the party awarded ownership by a final judgment of the competent court.

Pursuant to the Law, a claim for found property or its price shall not be heard, without valid excuse, after the lapse of 15 years from the date of discovery. Found property or the proceeds of its sale shall be delivered to its owner after the owner has paid the costs of safekeeping, announcement and sale as assessed by the Police.

The Law stipulates that the finder may be honoured and granted a certificate of appreciation from Ajman Police in recognition of their honesty, or awarded a financial reward or gift in kind, to be deducted from the value of the found property or the proceeds of its sale.

The Law obliges all government entities and private legal persons to cooperate with Ajman Police, provide the necessary support and coordinate with it to enable it to carry out the functions assigned to it under this Law, the decisions issued thereunder and the legislation in force in the Emirate, including surrendering any found property and abandoned assets in their possession within the specified timeframes in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

The Law further stipulates that the Commander-in-Chief shall issue the necessary regulatory decisions to implement the provisions of this Law.

The Law provides for the repeal of any text or provision contained in any other legislation to the extent that it conflicts with the provisions of this Law.

This Law shall come into force from the date of its issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette.