TOP EXECUTIVES AT GENERAL PETROLEUM UAE ARRESTED IN $6.7 MILLION FRAUD SCANDAL.
BY NJOKI KARANJA.
Al Hamriyah, UAE – June 13, 2025
In a sweeping crackdown on corporate fraud, UAE authorities have arrested senior executives at General Petroleum UAE, unraveling a multimillion-dollar scam that has rocked the region's business community. The arrests are part of an active investigation under Case No. 386/2024 and Report No. 74/2024, filed at Al Hamriyah Police Station.
Those taken into custody include Zafar Iqbal, the company’s Finance Manager; Tariq Khan, the General Manager; and Abdul Rahman, son of the firm’s Managing Director, Habib Khan. Authorities say the trio played key roles in a complex fraud operation that allegedly defrauded the investor of $6.7 million through misrepresentation and illegal registration of the General Petroleum brand.
Managing Director Habib Khan, who initially misled authorities by claiming he was outside the UAE, has since been placed under a travel ban. Meanwhile, his nephew and the company's Operations Manager, Ghyias ud Din, has absconded and is now wanted by authorities.
Investigations that began three months ago have revealed widespread malpractice within the company, including unauthorized collection of funds from customers. According to investigators, Ghyias ud Din was illegally soliciting payments under the pretense of facilitating goods dispatches — despite holding no legal business status in the United States. His actions have raised serious concerns about the company’s operations across international borders.
As part of the ongoing investigation, law enforcement has launched multiple raids and is actively pursuing further leads to expose the full extent of the alleged criminal enterprise. The case has sent shockwaves through the corporate sector and drawn praise for the UAE’s firm stance on white-collar crime.
"This is a clear message that fraud and corporate misconduct will not be tolerated," said an official close to the investigation. “The integrity of our business environment is paramount.”
Authorities are urging the public to assist with any information that could lead to the apprehension of Ghyias ud Din. Meanwhile, more arrests could follow as the probe deepens into what is shaping up to be one of the largest corporate fraud cases in the UAE this year.
The case reinforces the UAE’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and regulatory enforcement, as the nation continues to bolster its reputation as a secure and ethical hub for international business.
