A former policeman from the United Arab Emirates has been arrested for allegedly setting cars on fire in Thailand.

Muajib Ali Salim Saleh Alkarbi, 40, was detained by police on Koh Phangan island in Surat Thani province on March 4 after allegedly burning a BMW and Toyota sedans on Koh Samui.

The suspected arson happened on March 2, and an arrest warrant was issued for Alkarbi on March 3.

Police Colonel Krairerk Ngamsri, superintendent of the Koh Samui Police Station, said CCTV footage appeared to show Alkarbi riding a motorcycle with no license plate and committing the crime past midnight.

The burnt vehicles were owned by Anan Teng, Alkarbi's business partner in selling second-hand cars. The two are believed to have fought, leading to the arson.

Police said Alkarbi pretended to be staying at Koh Phangan during the incident by booking a hotel there. He travelled to Koh Samui to set fire to the cars and planned to return to the hotel right away on a long-tailed boat, but he was still caught thanks to surveillance footage.

Police are preparing a proposal to revoke his passport.

Alkarbi was charged with committing arson, which he denied. The suspect said he will be 'fighting the charges legally.'