Criminal Law — UAE Legal Guides
29 UAE legal guides on Criminal Law.
How Many Black Points Are You Allowed in Dubai Before You Lose Your Licence?
A driving licence in Dubai is suspended once the driver reaches 24 cumulative black points. Here is how points are added under the federal penalty schedule, where to check your running total, how the rehabilitation route works, and what to do when you are close to the limit.
MMI Licence in the UAE: What the Alcohol Permit Is, Who Can Get One, and Where It Applies
MMI does not issue licences. It is a licensed alcohol retailer that processes the personal alcohol permit the emirate issues. This guide explains what the permit covers, who qualifies, how the counter application works, why it does not travel across emirate borders, and the mistakes that turn a shopping trip into a police file.
WhatsApp Legal Rules in the UAE: Messages, Calls, Groups and Screenshots
A plain-English guide to the rules that govern WhatsApp use in the UAE — which laws apply, when an insult becomes a crime, what sharing screenshots and private photos risks, how group chats and forwarding are treated, why voice and video calls sit under separate telecom rules, and where offences are reported.
Vehicle Impound in the UAE: Why Cars Are Seized and How Release Works
A practical guide to vehicle impound in the UAE — the offences that trigger it under the federal traffic law, how long it lasts, the release routes and daily fees in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the smart impound that keeps the car with you, and how to challenge an impoundment order.
UAE Cybercrime Law: What Counts as a Cyber Crime and How to Report It
A plain-English guide to Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes — which online conduct is criminal in the UAE, from hacking and online fraud to insults, privacy breaches and false information, how penalties are structured, and the official channels for reporting a cyber crime in Dubai and every other emirate.
Police Clearance Certificate in the UAE: How to Apply and Use It Abroad
A plain-English guide to the UAE police clearance certificate (good conduct certificate) — which authority issues it, how to apply through the Ministry of Interior or Dubai Police, what former residents applying from abroad need, how fees and validity work, and how the certificate is attested for use in another country.
Liquor License in Dubai: Rules, Eligibility, Cost and Tourist Permits
A plain-English guide to Dubai's personal liquor licence — who is eligible, how residents apply through the emirate's approved retailers, what the licence does and does not permit, how tourists are treated, where drinking is and is not lawful, and the penalties the Crimes and Penalties Law attaches to alcohol offences.
Fraud under UAE Law: What Counts, Penalties and How to Report It
A plain-English guide to fraud under UAE law — what the Penal Code and the cybercrime law actually punish, how to report a scam to the police or through eCrime, what the Public Prosecution does with your complaint, and how the civil route recovers your money.
Counterfeit Products in the UAE: The Law, Dubai Police Warnings and Your Rights
What UAE law actually says about counterfeit products — the crimes and penalties for selling and promoting fakes under the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law and the Trademarks Law, where buyers stand, what Dubai Police have warned about social-media resellers, the refund and exchange rights of a deceived customer, and how to report counterfeit goods to the right authority.
UAE Traffic Rules 2026: Licences, Speed Limits and Driver Duties
A plain-English guide to what the federal traffic law actually requires of drivers in the UAE — licence eligibility and conversion, speed and lane discipline, seat belt and child seat duties, phone rules, pedestrian and e-scooter obligations, and the insurance you must carry.
Prosecutor in the UAE: How the Public Prosecution Works from Complaint to Trial
The Public Prosecution is the state authority that stands between the police and the criminal court in the UAE. This guide explains what a prosecutor does, how a case moves from complaint to trial, your rights when summoned, and how appeals work.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in the UAE: Law, Penalties and What Happens Next
The UAE applies a zero-tolerance rule to alcohol and driving: any amount in your system behind the wheel is a criminal offence. This guide covers the governing laws, penalties, the arrest and bail process, and insurance consequences.
UAE Defamation Law Explained: Insult, Slander, Online Defamation and How to Respond
Defamation is a criminal matter in the UAE, covering insult, slander and anything posted online. Here is what counts as defamation, the penalty framework, and the practical steps to take whether you are the victim or the person accused.
Cybercrime Lawyer Dubai: When to Hire One (2026 Guide)
A plain-language guide to when to hire a cybercrime lawyer in Dubai — the offences and victim situations that need one, what the lawyer actually does, and how to report a case.
When a Financial Dispute Becomes a Criminal Case in the UAE
Most money disputes in the UAE stay civil, but deception, misused trust, forgery, or a bad-faith cheque can turn them criminal. Here is where the line sits and what to do.
Detained in Dubai: Your Rights, the Process, and Bail
Arrested or held in Dubai? Here's what happens from arrest to court — your rights, the police and prosecution stages, how bail works, and how to get a licensed UAE lawyer fast.
Abortion Law in the UAE: What Is Permitted, What Is Prohibited (2026 Guide)
Abortion in the UAE is restricted under Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 and the medical framework, and permitted only on defined grounds, which since 2024 include rape and incest. Here is a neutral, factual overview of what the law permits and prohibits.
How to File a Cybercrime Complaint in the UAE: Reporting Online Fraud, Defamation and Blackmail
A plain-English guide to filing a cybercrime complaint in the UAE — where to report (eCrime, Aman, the police and Public Prosecution), what evidence to keep, and what happens next for online fraud, defamation and blackmail.
Is Using a VPN Illegal in the UAE? What the Law Actually Says in 2026
Using a VPN is not a crime in the UAE — but using one to commit or conceal an offence is. Here is where Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 draws the line, and how to stay on the right side of it.
WhatsApp Blackmail in the UAE: What to Do Right Now
Being blackmailed or sextorted over WhatsApp in the UAE? A calm, step-by-step triage guide — don't pay, preserve the evidence, and report to the police cybercrime channel.
Judgment in Absentia in the UAE: What It Means and How to Challenge It
A clear UAE guide to a judgment in absentia: what it is, how a court can rule without you present, and the steps — objection or appeal — to challenge it before it becomes final.
Release on Bail in the UAE (Ekhla Sabeel): How Temporary Release Works in 2026
A plain-English guide to release on bail (ekhla sabeel) in the UAE — who decides it, what a financial or personal guarantee means, conditions, and your options if it is refused.
UAE Traffic Law: Fines, Imprisonment, and When You Need a Defence Lawyer
A plain-English map of UAE traffic penalties — from fines and black points up to vehicle confiscation and imprisonment — and how to tell when a charge turns criminal.
WhatsApp Defamation Case in Dubai: How to File or Defend One (2026 Guide)
A WhatsApp message can become a criminal defamation case in Dubai. Learn when a chat crosses the line, how to file or defend a complaint, the evidence that matters, and the likely penalties.
Drug Offence Charges in the UAE: Defence, Penalties & Rehabilitation
How a drug case works in the UAE — the difference between possession, personal use, and trafficking, the penalty ladder, the rehabilitation route, and deportation risk.
UAE Black Points Appeal: Emirate-by-Emirate Process Guide (2026)
Black points accumulate on your UAE driving file and can put your licence at risk of suspension. This emirate-by-emirate guide walks through the appeal route at Dubai Police, Abu Dhabi Police, Sharjah Police, and the federal MOI traffic platform.
UAE Criminal Defense Lawyer: Hiring, Process & Rights Guide
A practical guide to hiring a criminal defense lawyer in the UAE: what they do, your rights under Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, how to choose counsel, and how to act fast after arrest.
Criminal lawyers in Abu Dhabi: when to hire, what they do, 2026 guide
When to hire criminal lawyers in Abu Dhabi in 2026, how Abu Dhabi Judicial Department criminal procedure differs from Dubai, prosecution stage rights, bail decisions and the route from arrest to cassation.
UAE Criminal Defence: Your Rights When Arrested or Charged (2026)
Arrested in the UAE? Under Decree-Law 38/2022 you have the right to silence, to a lawyer, and (foreign nationals) to your consulate. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours and how the prosecution stage really works.