Cartel godfather Christy Kinahan is ordered to leave Dubai by September 29 after UAE cancels his residency visa

From the Newshound archive · first published 20 September 2026 · last updated 21 September 2026.

Christy Kinahan, the 69-year-old Irish founder of the Kinahan drug cartel, faces expulsion from Dubai after the UAE cancelled his residency visa on August 31, giving him a September 29 deadline to leave the Gulf state he has called home for a decade. The move came weeks after his son Daniel was extradited from Dubai to Ireland, where he faces charges of directing a criminal organisation. A $5 million US bounty remains on Kinahan's head and he continues to be subject to American sanctions, with intelligence services across Europe now monitoring his next move.

Kinahan lost his final Dubai court appeals after his visa originally expired in April, and reportedly owes more than $1,000 in overstay fines.

One theory is that Kinahan could return to the UK, where he faces no charges — though Spanish police are still investigating him for travelling on a false passport.

The $5 million bounty on his head remains active, and his eventual destination is unknown.