Member News

I am proud to have recently been re-elected as President of the Association of British Investigators at our recent conference and will serve another year in office. It’s a privilege to continue leading an organisation committed to advancing ethical standards in investigations and risk advisory worldwide. During this time, I’ve witnessed a clear shift: clients no longer seek reactive investigation services—they seek proactive intelligence and risk mitigation strategies that align with fast-paced global growth.

Understanding the Regional Landscape

Dubai and the wider UAE provide an exceptional platform for business, underpinned by world-class infrastructure, stable governance, and forward-thinking regulation. However, it’s essential to understand that private investigations are restricted under UAE law. Traditional surveillance, field operations, or certain types of evidence gathering are heavily regulated, and often only permissible via licensed law enforcement or approved local entities.

This legal context means international businesses must be discreet, compliant, and strategic in how they assess risk and gather intelligence—especially when onboarding new suppliers, conducting due diligence, or managing internal issues. That’s why we position our services within a risk advisory framework, compliant with local laws and aligned with global best practice.

Launching Conflict Advisory Group – Dubai

To serve the specific needs of the Gulf region, we recently launched Conflict Advisory Group, a specialist subsidiary of Conflict International, incorporated in Dubai. Focused on delivering strategic risk advisory, the Group supports corporate clients, legal teams, and high-net-worth individuals across the Middle East and servicing client interests globally.

Our services include:

• Corporate intelligence and reputational analysis
• Pre-transactional due diligence
• Complex asset tracing (outside UAE jurisdiction)
• Litigation and dispute support
• Strategic background checks and market entry risk

Through discreet, ethical, and legally compliant methods, we help clients understand who they’re doing business with, whether the individuals involved are credible, and what hidden risks may exist before contracts are signed.

The Challenge of Cross-Border Relationships

One of the greatest threats to business in the region comes from entities based outside the GCC, where enforcement standards, regulatory oversight, or transparency may be weaker—or entirely absent. Time and again, we’ve seen clients exposed to:

• Fraudulent contractors or misrepresented companies
• Hidden beneficial ownership or sanctioned individuals
• Weak dispute resolution mechanisms abroad
• Complex cross-jurisdictional asset shielding structures

These risks can’t always be spotted on paper. Risk advisory offers a deeper layer of insight, blending open-source research, local knowledge, and international reach to help clients make better, more secure decisions.

A Professional, Intelligence-Led Approach

Across our global offices—in London, New York, and now Dubai—our mission is simple: to deliver clarity where others offer assumptions. Whether we’re assisting a legal team with cross-border asset recovery or advising a CEO on the reputational risk of a joint venture, our approach is always intelligence-led, ethical, and discreet.

As regulatory pressure grows around issues such as anti-money laundering (AML), compliance, and data protection, businesses in Dubai must lead with foresight. That means investing in risk prevention, not damage control.

Supporting the Chamber Community

As an active member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Dubai, I’m committed to supporting fellow British and international businesses as they navigate growth in this vibrant market. Through Conflict International and Conflict Advisory Group, we aim to provide the regional insight and global intelligence needed to operate securely and strategically across borders.

About the Author
Mike LaCorte is CEO of Conflict International, a global risk and intelligence agency with offices in Dubai, London, New York, and beyond. He is also the President of the Association of British Investigators and a past President of the World Association of Detectives. Mike advises corporate clients, law firms, and private individuals on cross-border due diligence, dispute resolution, and risk management strategies.

https://conflictadvisory.com              www.mikelacorte.com