09/10/2026
A fake Patek Philippe sold for AED 700,000 (approximately $190,000) has landed a woman in serious legal trouble in Dubai. ⌚⚖️
The Dubai Civil Court has ordered the woman to return the full amount to a buyer after she sold him a counterfeit Patek Philippe, presenting it as a genuine luxury timepiece.
According to reports, the buyer, an Arab national, filed a complaint after discovering that the watch he had purchased for AED 700,000 was not authentic.
The case initially went through the criminal courts. In March 2025, the Dubai Misdemeanour Court found the woman guilty, fined her AED 10,000, ordered the counterfeit watch to be confiscated, and instructed her to return the money.
The woman challenged the decision, but her appeals were unsuccessful. The Court of Cassation also rejected her appeal, making the criminal judgment final.
The buyer then pursued the matter through Dubai’s Civil Court, which confirmed that the woman had obtained the money through fraud by misrepresenting the watch’s authenticity.
The court ordered her to repay the full AED 700,000, along with 5% annual legal interest from the date of the civil judgment until payment is completed. She must also cover court fees, expenses, and legal costs.
The case highlights the risks associated with counterfeit luxury watches, particularly when dealing with high-value purchases. Even at this price level, authenticity cannot simply be taken for granted.