Skip to main content

Ask a Lawyer·Personal Injury

Personal InjuryAnswered

How is diya (blood money) calculated for a fatal road accident in the UAE?

Asked by Anonymous·Jun 26, 2026·1 answers
A family member died in a UAE traffic accident and the relatives want to understand how diya, or blood money, is determined and who decides the amount.

This answer is AI-generated and editorially reviewed. It is general legal information, not legal advice — verify anything you act on with a licensed UAE lawyer. How LEXAI uses AI

1 answers

Best answer
L
LEXAI

Editorially reviewed by LEXAI

Jun 26, 2026
Diya (blood money) is the compensation payable to the heirs of a person who dies as a result of another's act in the UAE, and it has roots in Sharia principles incorporated into UAE law through the Penal Code (the Crimes and Penalties Law). It is a fixed, court-recognised sum rather than something negotiated case by case, and it is distinct from any separate civil claim for additional damages the family may bring under the UAE Civil Transactions Law. In a fatal road accident, diya typically arises alongside the criminal case against the responsible driver, and the court determines entitlement and apportionment among the legal heirs according to Sharia inheritance shares. Where the death resulted from driving a vehicle, the driver's motor insurance commonly responds to the diya obligation. Because the exact monetary value of diya is set by law and applied by the court, you should confirm the current figure and procedure with the relevant court or a qualified professional rather than rely on estimates. You can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI experienced in diya and fatal-accident claims.
Helpful (0)

Related Questions

Underlying law

Keep reading

Corporate Commercial

Starting a Business in the UAE: The Complete Legal Guide

A complete legal guide to starting a business in the UAE — choosing mainland vs free zone, licences, ownership, tax and the contracts you'll need.

9 min read

Corporate Commercial

UAE Corporate Tax & Business Compliance: The Complete Guide

Your UAE corporate tax and compliance guide — registration, the 9% and 0% bands, free zone rules, VAT, UBO, ESR and record-keeping in one place.

9 min read

Labour Employment

UAE Labour Law Working Hours and Overtime: A Practical 2026 Guide

A plain-English guide to UAE labour law working hours: the 8-hour day and 48-hour week caps, how overtime is paid, Friday and rest-day work, the Ramadan reduction, exemptions, and what to do if your overtime goes unpaid.

9 min read