Middle East: Criminal Law

A person who drives on a UAE road without a driving licence, or with a licence that does not cover the type of vehicle he is driving, commits a criminal offence rather than a routine traffic violation. On a first offence, the court may impose imprisonment of up to three months and a fine of between AED 5,000 and AED 50,000, or either penalty alone. On a repeat offence, imprisonment is for not less than three months and the fine rises to between AED 20,000 and AED 100,000, again with the court able to impose either penalty alone. These penalties are set out in Article 37 of Federal Decree-Law No. (14) of 2024 on the Regulation of Traffic (the “Traffic Law”).

A person, director, employee, trader, or virtual asset business faces questions about crypto transactions and suspected money laundering. Accounts or wallets may be frozen, and investigators may request records or an interview.

A criminal matter can move quickly from a police complaint to Public Prosecution questioning, detention review, trial, or appeal. A client may need help before there is time to compare firms slowly.