The Rights and Obligations of Individuals in the UAE

Whether you’re a resident or tourist in Dubai and the UAE, you as an individual have certain rights that the UAE’s government is obligated to give you and follow in the country.

Despite horror stories so often shared in international news, the UAE’s judicial system in fact endeavours to respect and uphold the dignity of people here.

In fact, the UAE’s criminal procedural law presumes that the accused individual is innocent until proven guilty.

To uphold these procedures, individuals living in or visiting Dubai and the UAE have certain rights and obligations allowed for them during their time in the country, as the UAE’s Government official online portal explains.

Your individual rights in the UAE

1. No criminal penalty may be imposed on anyone without proving his guilt according to the law

2. No one may be arrested, searched, detained or imprisoned except under the circumstances and conditions mentioned in the law.

3. Detention or imprisonment may only take place in places designated for that purpose and for the period specified in the warrant issued by the competent authority.

4. Law enforcement authorities such as police may not enter into any place of residence except under the circumstances specified in this law or in case of a request for assistance from a resident who could be under a serious threat to his life or property.

If you are a witness to a criminal action

5. Whoever comes to know about the occurrence of a crime that the public prosecution can file a criminal action against, without a complaint or a request, must report it to the public prosecution or judicial officers.

SEE ALSO: 8 things that can land you in jail in Dubai

6. Anyone who witnesses the offender committing a felony or misdemeanour should hand him over to the nearest public authority without the need for an arrest warrant.

If you are found innocent following an accusation

7. The accused can ask the court to compensate him for the prejudice suffered due to the harmful accusation made by the victim or the accuser.

For more information about the UAE’s judicial system, you can visit the official UAE government website here.