Penalty Info

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TheftVerified against official source

Verified against official source

This range was checked against the official legal text. Last verified: 2026-10-19.

Statutory range

Art. 436 — aggravated combination

Imprisonment
Life
Fine
—

Night + 2 or more persons + weapon + inhabited place / entry by scaling / breaking / duplicate keys / false capacity / pretended service + coercion / threat.

Art. 437 — public road / transport + weapon / force / night combinations

Imprisonment
Life or temporary imprisonment (3–15 years)
Fine
—

Art. 438 — coercion / threat with weapons

Imprisonment
Temporary imprisonment (3–15 years)
Fine
—

Art. 439 — night with 2 or more persons, one weapon; or night in an inhabited place with one weapon

Imprisonment
Temporary imprisonment (3–15 years)
Fine
—

Art. 440 — Armed Forces / police weapons or ammunition

Imprisonment
Temporary imprisonment (3–15 years)
Fine
—

Life if an Art. 437 circumstance applies. Government telecom / public-benefit supplies: detention of at least 1 year up to 5 years.

Art. 441 — night, or carrying weapons

Imprisonment
Incarceration: at least 2 years up to 7 years
Fine
—

Worker at the workplace / harm to employer: temporary imprisonment of at least 5 years up to 7 years.

Art. 442 — worship place; inhabited place; transport / station / harbour / airport; scaling / breaking / duplicate keys; false capacity; 2 or more persons; war / injured persons; Art. 5 authorities’ property; cattle

Imprisonment
Incarceration: minimum 1 year (no maximum stated in article; Art. 70 default cap 3 years)
Fine
—

Art. 443 — simple theft

Imprisonment
Incarceration: minimum 6 months
Fine
Fine (amount not specified in article)

Imprisonment OR fine.

Art. 445 — attempt of misdemeanour theft

Imprisonment
Half the penalty for the completed misdemeanour theft
Fine
—
Note on this entry

“Temporary imprisonment” = 3–15 years unless the law states otherwise; “incarceration” = 1 month–3 years unless otherwise. Art. 445: attempt of misdemeanour theft = half the penalty.

Source

Statute
Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 435–446
Official source
uaelegislation.gov.ae (Legislation 1529)
Verification status
Last verified
2026-10-19
Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors, plea, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.