It was a historic first that sparked considerable enthusiasm at the highest levels of the French government – albeit with some inaccuracy: “The [Emirati] judicial authorities have informed me of the seizure of 82 apartments as part of a major drug trafficking case linked to Marseille,” French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on November 28, 2025, following a visit to the United Arab Emirates 11 days earlier. On December 22, the minister returned to the Gulf, with the goal of continuing the “work to expedite investigations, as well as extraditions and asset seizures against drug traffickers based in Dubai.”

Le Monde has learned, corroborated by cross-checks in Dubai’s property records and data from the “Dubai Unlocked” project, that several apartments were counted multiple times, and the freeze ordered by Emirati authorities actually affects 33 unique properties – 30 apartments, two villas and one plot of land. Darmanin did not respond to requests for comment.

Although the scale of the seizure was exaggerated, these confiscations still represent a major victory for the French judiciary and investigative services, marking an unprecedented step forward in judicial cooperation between France and the United Arab Emirates, and a first in the annals of property seizures in Dubai.

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