Born in Ankara in 1973, Ümit Hakan Karakaya served in the Turkish Armed Forces as an F-16 aircraft technician (NCO) before integrating operational military precision with an International Law bachelor's degree. In 2005, he founded DAT Private Detective Agency (DAT Group) and has overseen over 4,000 cases nationwide and internationally.
“Within the Turkish legal framework, family court judges hold broader authority than criminal courts... I am looking for that courageous judge ready to say: Let the private investigator uncover the facts.” — ÜSTAD Bar Association Journal Interview
Having served as an F-16 fighter aircraft technician (NCO) in the Turkish Armed Forces, Karakaya carried strict technical discipline and field vigilance into private investigation. After completing his degree in International Law, he reinforced lawful evidence standards through the Union of Turkish Bar Associations Foundation (TÜRAVAK) Advanced Family Law Certificate and the Cyprus Science University (KİÜ) Forensic Sciences & Private Investigation Program.
Founded in 2005, DAT Private Detective Agency operates across all 81 provinces of Turkey with 4,000+ closed cases in spouse surveillance, pre-marital verification, child custody & divorce evidence, debtor/address tracing, and TSCM counter-surveillance sweeps. The agency expands internationally via offices in Istanbul (Kartal), Ankara (Çankaya), Podgorica (Montenegro — WPYB Global), and Las Vegas (USA).
To formalize statutory regulation, ethical standards, and anti-fraud oversight in private investigation, Karakaya founded and chaired TÜDED (All Private Detectives Association) and UÖDED (International Private Detective Trainings Association), spearheading the 1st International Private Investigators Conference. He also leads global anti-counterfeiting platform WPYB (We Protect Your Brand) and WPYB Academy brand investigator trainings.
He is the author of “The Detective’s Eye — In Search of Secrets and Traces” covering investigation methods and field realities. He served as publisher and editor-in-chief of Özel Dedektif Dergisi, and appeared across ÜSTAD Law Journal, PI Magazine, Kanal 24, TV8, Dedektif Haber, Hürriyet, and Bolu Gündem. DAT Group and Karakaya received the "Successful Research & Investigation Firm of the Year" and Crystal Honor Award at the Best of the Year ceremony.
Beyond investigation, Ümit Hakan Karakaya is recognized for civic initiatives: he is among the founding leaders of the Hayalime Renk Ver Association and its recycling-powered Toy Library inspired by his daughter Elif, providing free toys to disadvantaged children and earning multiple social responsibility awards. Through UKAİM (International Missing Children Research & Abuse Prevention Association), he has also issued public child-safety guidance during disaster response efforts.
Born in Ankara in 1973, he is a Turkish private investigator, author, and NGO leader. After serving in the Turkish Armed Forces as an F-16 aircraft technician (NCO), he completed an International Law degree and founded DAT Private Detective Agency (DAT Group) in 2005.
He founded and chaired TÜDED and UÖDED to establish statutory norms and training standards for private detectives in Turkey, and leads WPYB (We Protect Your Brand) for corporate anti-counterfeiting investigations.
He authored "The Detective's Eye — In Search of Secrets and Traces", published Özel Dedektif Dergisi, and has been featured in ÜSTAD Legal Journal, PI Magazine, Kanal 24, TV8, Dedektif Haber, Hürriyet, and Bolu Gündem.
Inspired by his daughter Elif, he co-led the Hayalime Renk Ver Association and its free Toy Library for children, and participated in UKAİM initiatives focused on missing children and child protection.
