How to Avoid Booking Scams in Dubai
Updated October 2026 · by the Dubai Luxora team
Most problems start the same way: a price that is too good to be true, pressure to pay now, and a request to send money to a personal account. Book only with licensed companies, check the licence, get a written quote and pay by a traceable method. Dubai Police repeated this advice in June 2026 when it warned about fake travel offers on social media.
Red flags
- Too cheap. A superyacht or Lamborghini far below the typical prices in our price list.
- Pressure. "Only one slot left, pay in 10 minutes."
- Personal accounts. A request to transfer to an individual's bank account, crypto wallet or gift card.
- Look-alike websites or pages. A web address or social profile that is one letter off a known company.
- No company name. Nobody can tell you which licensed company owns the yacht or car.
- Codes and passwords. Anyone asking for a card PIN, password or one-time code.
Dubai Police's six tips
In June 2026 Dubai Police advised travellers to:
- Be wary of deals that look too good to be true.
- Book only through licensed agencies and trusted official platforms.
- Check the website address carefully.
- Not rush into immediate payment — verify the booking first.
- Never share card details, passwords or one-time codes.
- Report suspicious offers through the eCrime platform or by calling 901 (non-emergency).
Source: Khaleej Times, 30 June 2026.
Car rental: protect your deposit
- Photograph and video the car inside and out at pickup, and get existing damage written down.
- Ask in advance about fuel, cleaning, late-return, extra-driver and toll-processing fees.
- Use a credit card — it gives you a way to dispute wrong charges.
How to check a company
- Ask for the company's trade licence.
- Check a mainland licence on the Invest in Dubai licence search; check a free-zone company on that free zone's website.
- Make sure the licence name matches the invoice and the payment account.
With Dubai Luxora, you always pay the licensed operator directly and can ask for its licence before paying. See Trust & Safety.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a Dubai yacht company is real?
Ask for its trade licence and check it on the Invest in Dubai licence search (mainland) or the free zone's website, check that the name matches your invoice, and ask for real photos or video of the yacht.
Where can I report an online scam in Dubai?
Dubai Police accepts reports through its eCrime platform, or by phone on 901 for non-emergency cases.
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Learn more →Still have questions? Ask a real person.
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