Get to Know About Criminal Law in the UAE

Posted by Professionallawyer on January 24th, 2022

Being involved in a crime can be a stressful experience regardless of whether you’re the victim or the accused. It’s even more overwhelming if you’re an expat in a country that is not your own. No matter your situation, it’s crucial to know your rights and work with an experienced and competent lawyer who specializes in criminal law in the UAE. They can help you make informed choices and improve your chances of success in your case.

Widely based on traditional Islamic laws

As per Article 7 of the country’s constitution, the Islamic Shariah Law will serve as the main source of legislation regarding cases on criminal law in the UAE. Most provisions of criminal law in the United Arab Emirates are derived from that law, which requires specific understanding and knowledge. The Shariah court may judge certain appeals regarding criminal cases, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, robbery, rape, and other related crimes.

Proceedings

You’ll find the procedures for criminal cases in the Federal Law No. 35 of 1992 as amended. It specifies the set of rules describing the process and methodology for criminal investigation, trial, rendering judgment, enforcement of the judgment, and the conditions to appeal the judgment at upper courts.

According to Article 7 of the Criminal Procedures Law, as amended, the Public Prosecution has the exclusive jurisdiction to instigate and prosecute criminal proceedings. It may track the proceedings until final judgment is provided, too.

Obligations and rights of individuals

The judicial system respects the people’s dignity. Criminal law in the UAE presumes that the accused is innocent until proven guilty, so it follows specific procedures when dealing with criminal cases. For instance, no criminal penalty will be imposed until guilt is proven according to the law. Likewise, no one will be arrested, detained, imprisoned, or searched except under the conditions and circumstances mentioned in the law.

You have the right to an attorney

Criminal law in the UAE states that anyone accused of a serious crime that is punishable by life imprisonment or a death sentence has the right to get a lawyer to defend him or her during the trial. If you find yourself in this situation, look for a group of experienced criminal lawyers with extensive experience in handling all kinds of criminal matters in the UAE.