How to Report a Stolen or Lost Credit Card in UAE?

If you believe that your credit card is lost or stolen, make sure to inform the bank immediately. As per the guidelines of the Central Bank of the UAE, all banks have a means of communication available around the clock — either through hotlines, mobile applications, or online banking.

What to Do Immediately?

As soon as you realise that your card is lost, contact your bank or card provider
Request the bank to block your card immediately

If required later, ask the bank to reissue your card
If it is established beyond doubt that your card was stolen and not just misplaced, file a police report

How to File a Police Report?

Dubai Police: Visit the eCrime platform or a police station
Abu Dhabi Police: Via the app or by calling 8002626

For other Emirates, contact your local police.

A police report also helps prove the incident and improves reimbursement chances. Save your bank’s emergency contact details to report a credit card lost instantly. This could be especially useful if you’re travelling.

Delaying reporting can make you liable for unauthorised charges. To avoid this, regularly check statements and enable real-time SMS alerts to detect suspicious activity.

Reporting Deadlines and Legal Rules for Lost or Stolen Credit Cards in UAE

The Consumer Protection Regulations of the Central Bank of the UAE contain distinct reporting timelines for protecting banking customers who are victims of credit card theft or loss. Some of the general requirements include —

Report any lost or stolen credit cards immediately through official channels
For unauthorised transactions, notify your bank (usually within 30 business days) of receiving the transaction alert or statement
Banks must log and confirm receipt of your report during the same call or chat session
A written confirmation of the blocked card and replacement process must be provided to you

A police report helps prove the theft wasn’t due to consumer error. Banks submit serious fraud cases to the authorities, but delaying beyond the stipulated timeline reduces reimbursement chances. Keep your bank’s emergency contact saved to report a lost card quickly while travelling.

What Happens After You Report a Lost or Stolen Credit Card?

The bank immediately blocks your card from further use
On your request, it may issue a new card with a new number and PIN
A full investigation will be undertaken by the bank's risk department in collaboration with the CBUAE's fraud department regarding all fraudulent charges

How to Monitor Your Account After a Lost or Leaked Credit Card Incident?

While you can follow the steps above in case of a stolen or leaked credit card, it’s also important to know what to do next —

For a few weeks, review your transaction statements daily
Set alerts for each credit card transaction by SMS and e-mail
If you find any unknown charges, dispute them within 48 hours through the bank's mobile app or any other official source
Never reveal particulars about your card to unknown callers, even when they claim to call you on behalf of a bank

Always verify card reissue calls or links through your bank’s official website or app, as fraudsters may use fake communications. Monitor your accounts in real time. Moreover, if your cancelled card is used online, change linked passwords, and contact your bank’s fraud department.

Know Your Rights For Stolen or Lost Credit Cards in UAE

The UAE has strong protection for banking theft victims. Once a card is reported lost or stolen, banks must protect clients from financial loss. Your protection includes —

Full reimbursement for unauthorised charges if reported promptly
Provisional card issued (if applicable) during fraud investigation
No liability for charges after reporting your credit card stolen
No interest or penalties applied to amounts under dispute

The Responsibility of the Bank for Lost or Stolen Credit Cards

As per guidelines, banks investigate disputed transactions resulting from a lost or leleaked credit card. In the process, their responsibilities include —

Investigate thoroughly and keep the customer informed throughout the process
Suspend interest on disputed amounts until resolved
Using fraud detection algorithms for flagging repetitive irregularities, together with online leaking trends of credit cards on portals

Your role is to present the dispute issues to your bank immediately and keep records of your communication with your bank. For cross-border transactions, protection features extend globally through the international fraud resolution networks of Visa and Mastercard.

How to Avoid Credit Card Loss or Theft in UAE?

While you’d now know what to do for lost, stolen, or leaked credit cards, it’s also necessary to implement good security habits. This can save you from fraudulent usage in future. Some of the key practices include —

Keep your card safe — don’t leave it unattended in public places
Use digital wallets (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay) for added encryption
Travel with only essential cards
Change online banking passwords regularly and avoid public Wi-Fi for transactions
Check statements monthly, verifying large transactions
Inform your bank of travel plans to avoid blocked transactions and alerts if lost abroad
Use virtual or prepaid cards for online shopping to reduce skimming and phishing risks

Advanced Security Tools to Avoid Credit Card Theft

Advanced safety measures position you one step ahead of fraudsters who would want to exploit lost or stolen cards. Here are some easy steps that you may take —

Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) for online banking and payments
Maintain reasonable daily spend limit on your cards
Use biometric login, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, on mobile devices for banking purposes
Participate in webinars that educate on fraud mitigation

What Should You do if Your Credit Card is Stolen or Lost in UAE?