A Royal Scam: “Fake Princess” Steals $3.2 Million Worth of Elite Oud in Dubai

All stolen goods were recovered in record time—just 12 hours after the theft. However, four other members of the scheme, including the woman posing as a princess, managed to flee the UAE. International “red notices” have already been issued for their arrest by Interpol.

A staged spectacle in a luxury villa: how the plan worked

Oud is a rare, extremely expensive, and highly fragrant wood used in some of the world’s most exclusive perfumes and incense. The criminals exploited its value.

Two members of the gang contacted a well-known Dubai oud trader, claiming that an influential princess visiting the emirate wished to purchase a large and exclusive consignment of the precious wood.

To eliminate any doubts, the scammers rented a luxury villa, placed armed guards at the entrance, and organized a lavish dinner reception to create the impression of a high-level royal meeting. The trader was fully convinced he was attending an audience with a member of the royal family.

When the victim arrived at the villa carrying bags filled with premium oud, the gang activated their carefully prepared plan. While the trader was being distracted, the valuable wood was quietly swapped with cheap logs and firewood packed into identical bags.

Unaware of the switch, the businessman left with the bags, only realizing the deception later—after which he urgently contacted the authorities.

Dubai villas as traps for luxury

For Dubai police, such theatrical robberies are already a familiar scenario. Increasingly, criminals in the UAE use rented luxury properties to impress and deceive sellers of ultra-high-end goods.

Just a year earlier, in 2025, authorities dismantled another gang using a similar method. At that time, the scammers posed as intermediaries for a wealthy buyer, lured a renowned jeweler to a private villa meeting, and stole a rare pink diamond worth $25 million.