Christy Kinahan, founder of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, is heading out of the UAE after his residence visa was cancelled, Bellingcat and The Sunday Times have revealed. Government immigration records show that Kinahan’s UAE residence permit was formally cancelled on August 31, 2023. He is leaving on September 29, his immigration file shows.
Kinahan’s move is a big change because he has lived in Dubai for years. The 69-year-old has been living in the UAE for about a decade and Dubai is a hub of organised crime for the Kinahan family. The cancellation comes weeks after his eldest son Daniel Kinahan was extradited from Dubai to Ireland to face charges for leading an alleged criminal organization.
Why was Christy Kinahan’s UAE Visa cancelled?
The reason for the cancellation is not known publicly. Bellingcat reported that Kinahan’s employment-based residence visa had expired on April 1 before being formally cancelled on August 31. His most recent visa listed OSA Management Consultancies DWC LLC as the employer.
According to information released by a UAE government-authorised service provider, cancellation of an employment residence visa can take place in cases such as permanent departure from the country, change of visa category or change of employer. For employment-based visas, the cancellation process is typically initiated by the employer or authorised representative. However, the available records do not establish which specific reason applied in Kinahan’s case.
The immigration record’s September 29 departure date is consistent with the standard grace period after cancellation of an employment residence visa, Bellingcat’s investigation found. European intelligence agencies think Kinahan stayed in Dubai but there has also been speculation that he may have already left the UAE.
Dubai had been Kinahan’s base for years.
Kinahan moved his base to Dubai after years of scrutiny from law enforcement agencies in Ireland and Europe. The city became an important centre for the larger Kinahan network which authorities have linked to international drug trafficking, money laundering and other organised criminal activity.
The US Treasury Department sanctioned Christy Kinahan and his sons Daniel Kinahan and Christopher Kinahan Jr. in 2022. The US government also offered rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the three men.
Earlier investigations into the UAE immigration records found that a number of people linked to the Kinahan organisation had residence permits in Dubai. Bellingcat reported in August that Christopher Kinahan Jr had received a new two-year UAE visa, while other members of the network had residence documents in the Emirates.
Daniel Kinahan’s Extradition adds to Pressure
The visa development follows the extradition of Daniel Kinahan from UAE to Ireland in August. The UAE Ministry of Justice confirmed that Daniel Kinahan was handed over to Irish authorities following a formal request and a final decision by the Dubai Court of Cassation. Irish authorities are investigating him as a member of organised crime and for allegedly leading a criminal organisation.
Daniel Kinahan’s departure was a major development as the Kinahan family had maintained the UAE as a base for years. Irish authorities had previously thought that members of the group were reluctant to leave the Emirates because of the risk of arrest in another country and the possibility of difficulty returning to the UAE.
Where Could Christy Kinahan Go Next?
Kinahan’s next destination remains unclear. Rumors have suggested possible relocation options but there is no official public information on where he will go once he has left the UAE. His international legal and financial status would severely limit his options.
Bellingcat reported that Kinahan had moved assets out of the Emirates as pressure on the company and divisions in the wider network intensified. But the exact extent of any restructuring in the group remains subject to law-enforcement investigations and media reporting.
As of now the only confirmed fact is that Kinahan’s UAE residence visa was cancelled on August 31 and immigration record gives him until September 29 to leave. The UAE has not publicly announced that the cancellation was linked to his alleged criminal activities and the specific reason recorded for the cancellation remains unclear.
But the development could be a big deal for a man who has made use of Dubai as a base for so long. With his son Daniel back in Ireland and Christy Kinahan facing a deadline to leave the UAE, attention will be on his location and next step.
