Assault is considered a violent crime in Dubai. Being accused of assault can result in either a misdemeanor or a felony charge. Either charge will result in jail time, fines, and restitution to the victim, parole and a mark on your criminal record for life.
While UAE law allows for the death penalty in certain cases, capital punishment is rarely carried out. The last known executions were in 2011 and 2014, against two men convicted of murder.
Dubai is a Muslim state, it is strict in its moral and ethical code, it has very different laws to those we have in the UK or in Europe or America for example, and if you want to live and work in the UAE you need to tread particularly carefully when it comes to your behaviour.
Swearing in public is completely prohibited in the UAE, with the use of the F-word being a crime, as it “disgraces the honor or the modesty” of a person, according to Article 373 of the UAE Penal Code. Swearing is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine as high as 10,000 dirhams.
Similarly, you can present your Emirates ID at the Dubai Police. They will check in their system if you have any active criminal cases against you. If you would like to confirm by way of a document, you can apply for a police clearance certificate.
If you do not have details of the cases, then I would advise that you undertake an inspection of police records to understand the situation and then clear them. You can get in touch with me on 052-9495731 or email for further assistance and clarification.
While many believe it is illegal to get a tattoo in the UAE, there is no law prohibiting it. However, tattoos are deemed a form of self-injury, something which is forbidden in Islamic culture. Do you have any visible tattoos on your body? It is illegal to get a tattoo by an unlicensed artist due to the health risk.
Can you wear shorts in Dubai? There are no fixed rules regarding wearing shorts. When it comes to wearing shorts in Dubai, even in case of tourists, remember that thigh grazing shorts, hot shorts, booty shorts and mini-skirts that barely cover may not be a good choice in Dubai, unless you are wearing them at a beach.
Aside from petty crime such as pickpocketing, scams and sexual harassment, person-on-person crime is not much of a concern for tourists in Dubai. Another thing tourists need to remember is that despite Dubai being moderate and open towards Westerners, it is not a democratic society.
Sexting in the UAE is against the law. That also includes nude selfies, as this young couple found out. In Ras Al Khaimah, a 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were given a three-month jail sentence followed by deportation for exchanging risque photos of themselves on WhatsApp, reported Khaleej Times.
Dubai does welcome tourist and is quite liberal, however there are some instances where it pays to dress slightly more conservatively, covering your shoulders and knees, and other times where you can dress for your own comfort.
It does not matter if one party kisses the other on the lips, on the cheek, or in a private place that would get them locked upon any part of the world; kissing is forbidden in public places in Dubai.
No, women are not required to cover their hair in Dubai. This might be required at certain religious places, but places that have this requirement usually also offer to borrow appropriate clothing to cover up.
How strict is the dress code in Dubai? Tourists will find that Dubai is a welcoming place that is home to melting pot of cultures and most forms of dress are acceptable, provided that they are modest. You certainly aren't restricted to any one type of clothing!
In Dubai slavery does not stop at construction labor exploitation. Another bastion of human rights violations in the city is the servitude and abuse of thousands of migrant domestic worker women.
Personal safety in Dubai is among the highest in the world, with 98.5% of women saying they felt safe walking alone in their neighborhoods at night in the UAE in the 2021 Women, Peace and Security Index's community safety survey.
One must be aware that chewing gum in Dubai Metro or the platform and Dubai buses isn't allowed and you can be fined if caught. Spitting in a public place can cost Dh1,000 in fine. In its website, Dubai Municipality has listed various offences and fines.
- Public displays of affection should be minimal – holding hands is acceptable but kissing and hugging in public is not. - Noise disruptions, bad language, making obscene gestures and showing disrespect in any way to Dubai's religion or its leaders are all forbidden and may land you in legal trouble.
Normal cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vape, heating tobacco, and other tobacco products are all legal in Dubai. Only if you use it in a location where smoking is prohibited, such as an outdoor smoking cabin. Smokers caught using an e-cigarette in a banned place face a fine of up to Dh 2.000.
Under Section 19 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the victim can seek justice and compensation for the defamation caused due to the false accusations. You can also file a defamation case against false FIR. The victim can also file a criminal defamation suit under Section 499 r/w Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code.