Dubai-based Indian businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni, popularly known as “Abu Sabah,” has been sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in a significant money laundering operation. Following the completion of his sentence, Sahni will be deported from the United Arab Emirates, as ordered by the Dubai Criminal Court.
Conviction and Sentencing
In May 2025, the Dubai Criminal Court convicted Sahni of orchestrating a complex money laundering scheme involving shell companies and suspicious financial transactions both within the UAE and internationally. The court imposed a fine of AED 500,000 (approximately USD 136,000) and ordered the confiscation of assets worth AED 150 million (around USD 40 million).
Sahni was among 33 defendants in the case, which included his son. Some co-defendants were tried in absentia, receiving varying prison terms and financial penalties. 
Background
Sahni, the founder and chairman of RSG Group, a property development conglomerate, gained notoriety in 2016 for purchasing a distinctive car number plate bearing the number “5” for AED 33 million at a public auction.
Implications
The case underscores Dubai’s commitment to combating financial crimes and reinforces the UAE’s efforts to uphold transparency and accountability in its business environment.
Sahni’s deportation will follow the completion of his five-year prison term, as stipulated by the court’s ruling.
