Dubai is the epitome of luxury and wealth. A scandalous release of real estate data in this emirate has revealed how many foreigners have invested their money in apartments and villas here. The resulting data, dating back to 2020, was given to the Unregulated Center for Crime and Conflict Studies (C4ADS), a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to researching international crime, and was revealed by Norwegian financial publication E24.

The documents show that there are many iconic European names among the foreign owners of Dubai real estate. Among them are accused or convicted individuals, as well as those facing international sanctions. Owners of such properties have turned out to be more' '100 members of Russia's political elite, officials or businessmen close to the Kremlin, as well as dozens of Europeans caught up in money laundering and corruption.

The prominent figures who own real estate in Dubai include Ruslan Baisarov, a Russian businessman close to Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov, and Alexander Borodai, a sanctioned member of the Russian Duma who became "prime minister" of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic during Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine. The Europeans include Daniel Keenahan, the alleged leader of an Irish criminal gang involved in cocaine smuggling and other crimes.

Dubai is also known for its status as a popular offshore center and its lack of financial transparency. All of this makes it an attractive destination for dubious individuals. The lack of extradition agreements with the European Union, the US and other countries allows suspected criminals to hide in Dubai from prosecution.

Representatives from the UN and Dubai's foreign offices did not respond to a request for comment. The person in charge of international financial relations at the UAE Embassy in Oslo said the allegations against Dubai real estate catalogs were factually untrue.