Penal Code

The UAE Penal Code — currently Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 on the Issuance of the Crimes and Penalties Law, which replaced Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 — is the core federal statute defining criminal offences and their penalties. It classifies crimes into felonies (punishable by death, life or long-term imprisonment), misdemeanours (short-term imprisonment or fine), and contraventions (fine only). It covers offences against the State, public morals, persons (homicide, assault, sexual offences), property (theft, fraud, breach of trust), honour (defamation, insult), and more recent categories such as cybercrime cross-references. Each emirate's Public Prosecution and criminal courts apply the Penal Code, together with specialised laws (Cybercrime, Narcotics, Money Laundering). Judicial discretion in sentencing is bounded by the statutory minimum and maximum.