Federal Law No. 31/2021of penalties and punishment
These are essential articles of the penalty code;
Article (1)
Introductory Provision
The provisions of the Islamic Sharia shall apply to the crimes punishable by retribution (Qisas) and crimes punishable by blood money (Diya). The other crimes and their prescribed
penalties shall be defined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and the other penal
codes in force.
Article (2)
No person may be convicted for a crime committed by another. And the accusedinnocent
until proven guilty in accordance with the law.
Article 209
Article (209) A penalty of incarceration and a fine not less than (100,000) one hundred thousand AED and not exceeding (500,000) five hundred thousand AED shall be imposed on whoever instigates others to not comply with the laws or commended a matter which is considered a crime.
Article 2016
Article (216) A penalty of temporary imprisonment and a fine not less than (200,000) two hundred thousand AED and not exceeding (500,000) five hundred thousand AED shall be imposed on anyone who instigates the hatred or contempt of a sect of people if such instigation leads to disturbance of public security.
Article 253
Article (253) A penalty of imprisonment for a period not exceeding (5) five years shall be imposed on whoever forges a copy of an official document and such copy has been used, or uses a copy Federal Law by Decree of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law 79 of an official document knowing of its forgery. The penalty shall be incarceration if such copy is of an unofficial document.
Article (279)
A penalty of temporary imprisonment for a period not exceeding (5) five years, shall be imposed on any person who, directly or indirectly, promises, offers or grants a person managing an entity or an establishment in the Private Sector an unentitled gift, privilege or grant, whether in favour of said person himself or in favour of another person, in return for performing or omitting an act that falls within his job duties or that violates of his job duties.
Article (384)
Whoever deliberately kills a person shall be punished with life imprisonment.
The penalty shall be death if the murder is committed with premeditation or predetermination, accompanied by or associated with another crime, or committed against any of the perpetrator’s descendants or against a public servant or a person entrusted with a public service in the course of, due to or on the occasion of performing his duties or service, or if a poisonous or detonating substance is used in the crime.
The penalty shall be temporary imprisonment for a period not less than (7) seven years if the relatives waive their right to Qisas at any stage of the lawsuit or before the execution of the penalty.
Article (390)
A penalty of incarceration and a fine shall be imposed on anyone who commits assault on the physical integrity of another person in any manner whatever, which leads to a disease or the inability to carry on his personal activities for more than twenty days. The penalty shall be incarceration for a period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding (10,000) ten thousand AED if the results of the assault are not as grave as is described in the preceding paragraph. If the assault leads on a pregnant woman to abortion, this shall be considered an aggravating circumstance.
Chapter Two Crimes Against Liberty Article (395) A penalty of temporary imprisonment shall be imposed on anyone who unlawfully, personally or through an intermediary, and through any means, kidnaps, seizes, detains or deprives another person of his liberty. The penalty shall be life imprisonment in the following cases: 1. If the act is committed with the assumption of public capacity or with the pretension to perform or to be entrusted with a public service, or to associated with a false capacity. 2. If the act is fraudulently committed or with the use of force or threat to kill or seriously harm, or by means of bodily or psychological torture. 3. If the act is committed by two or more persons or by a person carrying weapons. 4. If the period of the kidnapping, seizure, detention or deprivation of liberty exceeds one month. 5. If the victim is a female, juvenile, insane, imbecile or disabled. 6. If the act is committed with the intention to realize profit, to take revenge, to rape the victim or violate his honour, to injure him or to induce him to commit a crime. 7. If the act is committed against a public servant during or due to the performance of his job.
Chapter Two Crimes Against Liberty
Article (395)
A penalty of temporary imprisonment shall be imposed on anyone who unlawfully, personally or through an intermediary, and through any means, kidnaps, seizes, detains or deprives another person of his liberty. The penalty shall be life imprisonment in the following cases: 1. If the act is committed with the assumption of public capacity or with the pretension to perform or to be entrusted with a public service, or to associated with a false capacity.
If the act is fraudulently committed or with the use of force or threat to kill or seriously harm, or by means of bodily or psychological torture.
If the act is committed by two or more persons or by a person carrying weapons.
If the period of the kidnapping, seizure, detention or deprivation of liberty exceeds one month.
If the victim is a female, juvenile, insane, imbecile or disabled.
If the act is committed with the intention to realize profit, to take revenge, to rape the victim or violate his honor, to injure him or to induce him to commit a crime.
If the act is committed against a public servant during or due to the performance of his job. in Brief; Explore the comprehensive UAE Penal Code (Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021), addressing crimes, penalties, and legal protections. Released as part of significant legislative changes, this law enhances women’s rights, domestic workers’ safety, and social cohesion. To learn about cohabitation, sexual assault, and extramarital affairs under this updated legislation, contact us.
