Dubai and the rest of the UAE have a very different political structure than most countries in Europe and North America. Dubai`s (mostly Muslim) religious and political systems mean that the laws are different from those of other countries in the world. The rules may seem strict to expats, but people usually understand that you may not know what is acceptable. While there are various well-known laws to follow in Dubai and the surrounding EMIRATES, some of the UAE`s lesser-known restrictions are often overlooked. From Dubai to Abu Dhabi, these are some of the strangest ways to be arrested, fined or even deported from the country. Illegal sex is sometimes punishable by 60 lashes. [39] [40] [41] 80 lashes is the standard amount for anyone sentenced to flogging in multiple emirates. [42] Sharia courts have punished domestic workers with flogging. [43] In October 2013, a Filipino maid was sentenced to 100 lashes for theft after her employer discovered her illegitimate pregnancy. [44] Drunk driving is strictly illegal and punishable by 80 lashes; Many expatriates have been sentenced to 80 lashes for drunk driving. [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] In Abu Dhabi, a man was sentenced to 80 lashes for being drunk while on the Corniche with his girlfriend.
[51] Under UAE law, premarital sex is punishable by 100 lashes. [52] The law was amended to exclude expatriates. The UAE has been criticized for its human rights violations, but it is currently revising its laws to ease some social and economic restrictions. Perhaps the most ambiguous offense on this list, anything that is interpreted as a rumor is punishable under UAE law. Gossip, especially on social media, can carry a three-year prison sentence and a fine of up to 1 million dirhams (£215,754). With the intention of taking action against those who « harm social peace and public order » and pose a threat to « national peace », the UAE has very strict laws on the dissemination of news on the Internet. This also extends to your online activities. The use of swear words in WhatsApp messages or on any other social network or messaging platform violates the cyber laws of the United Arab Emirates. This includes sending emojis of the above indecent gestures. You can face a fine of up to 250,000 dirhams (£53,928), imprisonment or deportation.
SHERLOCK: Some versions of these laws were introduced in late 2020, others were announced last year and will be implemented this month. Although the United Arab Emirates was elected to the United Nations Council, it has not signed most international human rights and labour law treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. In November 2020, the UAE revised its legal system to, among other things, ease restrictions on alcohol consumption, allow cohabitation and increase the penalty for honour killings. [10] The UAE does not have social security laws,[74] but provides social benefits such as free hospital and medical care, education subsidies, water and electricity. Under the National Assistance Act, victims of disasters and disasters are entitled to benefits. Social security contributions are granted to the elderly, disabled or unable to support themselves. [75] SHAPIRO: The UAE has been criticized for a number of human rights violations. Will these new laws leave that record in the past? Is this really a significant change? The biggest risk for foreigners traveling to Dubai and the UAE in general is unknowingly violating one of the country`s strict laws. Dubai punishes actions that many Western travelers would never imagine illegal, including drinking alcohol without permission, holding hands, sharing a room with someone of the opposite sex as a spouse, photographing other people, offensive language or gestures, and unauthorized social media posts, for example. SHERLOCK: Well, analysts say, look; It can be years before we know the real effect of these laws. Part of the new legal code is open to many interpretations. And courts in more conservative parts of the UAE – outside of glittering cities like Dubai, for example – might be less interested in implementing the more liberal aspects of these new regulations.
The human rights groups I`ve spoken to say this is too early to say how useful the new law is – the new labor laws could really be for migrants, who are often forced to do precarious and low-paid work. And it`s important to remember that the UAE remains a monarchy where dissent is not really allowed. Critics of the government continue to be imprisoned or forced to flee. And there aren`t many signs that this redesign would change that. Since privacy, especially of women, is an integral part of Muslim culture, it is officially illegal to take pictures of people without asking their permission. Not only is it polite to ask before taking a picture of someone, but he should also refrain from taking pictures of government and military buildings. Not only do you need to follow strict guidelines on where and when to fly a drone, but you also need a license and an RPAS registration card issued by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) to learn more, read these guidelines. The official legal system in the United Arab Emirates is Sharia, which was developed from the Holy Quran as well as the Scriptures of the Sunnah, the annals of the Prophet Muhammad. Sharia is as much a legal right as it is a moral guide to etiquette and conduct.