Penalty Info

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United Arab Emirates

Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 Penal Code

How fines work here

Fine note — UAE Penal Code Art. 72: for fines, the judge sets the amount based on the perpetrator’s financial status and the damage; a fine shall be at least AED 10,000 and no more than AED 10,000,000. Diya (blood money) figures were not verified — no Diya figures are shown anywhere on this site.

Offences by family

Against the person

Assault (aggravated)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 387–390(1), 392

Verified against official source

Assault (simple)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 390(2)

Verified against official source

Defamation / insult

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 425–427

Possibly — unconfirmed

Domestic violence

Decree-Law No. 10 of 2019, Art. 9(1)

Possibly — unconfirmed

Harassment / sexual harassment

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 412–413

Possibly — unconfirmed

Hate crime

Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2023 Concerning Combating Discrimination, Hatred and Extremism, Arts. 5-17 (replacing Federal Decree-Law No. 2 of 2015); Penal Code (Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021), Arts. 425-426

Possibly — unconfirmed

Homicide — manslaughter

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 393 / 387

Verified against official source

Homicide — murder

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 383–385 + Art. 1 Sharia

Verified against official source

Human trafficking

Federal Law No. 51 of 2006, Arts. 2, 6 bis (as amended)

Possibly — unconfirmed

Illegal abortion

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 391

Verified against official source

Incitement / assistance to suicide

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 386 as amended by Federal Decree-Law of 8 Oct 2026

Possibly — unconfirmed

Kidnapping / unlawful deprivation of liberty

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 395

Verified against official source

Sexual offences

Consensual extramarital sexual conduct

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 409 (as amended Dec. 2025)

Possibly — unconfirmed

Prostitution / debauchery (incitement and solicitation)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 417, 410 (as amended Dec. 2025)

Possibly — unconfirmed

Sexual assault / rape

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 406–408 (+409 separate)

Verified against official source

Property

Arson

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 354

Verified against official source

Breach of trust

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 453–455

Possibly — unconfirmed

Burglary

No standalone offence — mapping to Arts. 436 / 442 / 474

Verified against official source

Extortion / threats (blackmail)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 351–353

Possibly — unconfirmed

Robbery

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 438 / 436 / 437 / 449 / 450

Verified against official source

Theft

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 435–446

Verified against official source

Vandalism / criminal damage

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 464 / 465 / 468 / 469 / 204

Verified against official source

Fraud & financial

Bankruptcy fraud

Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023, Art. 268

Possibly — unconfirmed

Counterfeiting (currency and government securities)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 239–241

Verified against official source

Embezzlement of public funds / property

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 261

Verified against official source

Forgery (documents)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 252

Verified against official source

Fraud

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 451 (+452)

Verified against official source

Intellectual property offences (trademark counterfeiting)

Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2021, Arts. 49–50

Possibly — unconfirmed

Money laundering

Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018, Art. 26

Possibly — unconfirmed

Securities offences (insider trading / market manipulation)

Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, Art. 355; SCA insider-trading regime

Possibly — unconfirmed

Tax evasion

Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022, Art. 25

Verified against official source

Drugs

Drug possession

Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021, Arts. 41–45

Possibly — unconfirmed

Drug trafficking / sale

Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021, Arts. 57–59, 56 + Schedule 10

Possibly — unconfirmed

Weapons

Weapons offences

Decree-Law No. 17 of 2019, Arts. 3, 49–56, 65, 66

Verified against official source

Public order

Begging (including organised begging)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 475–476 (Art. 476 confirmed)

Possibly — unconfirmed

Gambling

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 461

Verified against official source

Obscenity / indecent materials

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 416

Verified against official source

Religious offences

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 370

Verified against official source

Unlawful assembly / riot (incitement and organisation)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 212

Verified against official source

Against the state

Organized crime

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (Penal Code), Arts. 188-190; Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018 (AML/CFT), Art. 26(2)(c); Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021 (Narcotics), Arts. 57-58; Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 (Cybercrime), Art. 30

Possibly — unconfirmed

Terrorism

Federal Law No. 7 of 2014, Art. 21 (and general penalty range)

Possibly — unconfirmed

Treason, espionage and offences against state security

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 154–155

Verified against official source

Traffic & transport

DUI / drink driving

Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, Art. 35 (in force 29 Mar 2025; repeals Law 21/1995)

Possibly — unconfirmed

Traffic offences (non-DUI)

Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, Arts. 36–38, 40

Possibly — unconfirmed

Cyber & digital

Cybercrime / hacking

Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021, Arts. 1–3

Verified against official source

Privacy offences / unlawful disclosure of secrets

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 431–434

Possibly — unconfirmed

Environment & wildlife

Animal cruelty

Federal Law No. 16 of 2007, Art. 14; Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 471–473

Possibly — unconfirmed

Dangerous, wild and exotic animals

Federal Law No. 22 of 2016

Possibly — unconfirmed

Environmental offences

Federal Law No. 24 of 1999, Arts. 73–75

Possibly — unconfirmed

Immigration & borders

Immigration offences

Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021

Possibly — unconfirmed

Smuggling / customs offences

GCC Common Customs Law, Art. 145

Verified against official source

Corruption & justice

Abuse of office

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 268

Verified against official source

Bribery

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 275–283

Possibly — unconfirmed

Escape from custody

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 329, 331

Possibly — unconfirmed

Impersonation / false public office

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 299–300

Possibly — unconfirmed

Obstruction of justice (false reports and false evidence)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 324–325, 306

Possibly — unconfirmed

Perjury / false testimony

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 302

Verified against official source

Children & vulnerable people

Child abuse and neglect

Federal Law No. 3 of 2016, Arts. 34 and penalty provisions

Possibly — unconfirmed

Family & marriage

Family offences (newborn, custody, maintenance)

Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Art. 378

Verified against official source

Not legal advice. Ranges only — never a prediction of any individual sentence. Last verified: 2026-10-19.