Laws in United Arab Emirates
How the United Arab Emirates is classified on 35 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal (limited) Abortion is permitted on limited grounds such as a risk to health.
- Suicide Laws
- Criminal offense
- FGM Laws
- No specific ban There is no specific legal ban on FGM.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal and regulated by various authorities including the Capital Market Authority, DFSA, and FSRA.
- Online Gambling
- Partially legal Online gambling is restricted to non-citizens in specific licensed areas, while remaining illegal for local citizens.
Daily Life
- Public Smoking Bans
- Varies by region Smoking restrictions in the UAE vary by emirate, with Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, and Sharjah leading regulations in malls and beaches.
- Driving Age
- 16–17 Minimum age to drive a car: 17.
- Homeschooling
- Legal Homeschooling is legal.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.
Civic & Family
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 14–15 Minimum working age: 15.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized Same-sex unions have no legal recognition.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Death penalty possible Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence that can carry the death penalty.
- Age of Consent
- 18+ The age of consent is 18.
- Sex Work
- Illegal Prostitution is illegal in the UAE, despite its reputation as a sex tourism destination.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- Criminal offense Blasphemy is a criminal offense punishable by a minimum one-year jail sentence or a fine.
- Apostasy Laws
- Death penalty possible Apostasy is a hudud crime in the Penal Code, punishable by death, though no executions have been recorded.
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Desecrating the UAE flag or flags of other countries is illegal in the UAE.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Retained / in use Retained in law and used.
- Gun Laws
- Licensed / moderate Handguns are obtainable for sport or hunting, but self-defense alone is not sufficient for a license.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned A 1998 federal law banned corporal punishment in all public and private schools.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
- Drinking Age
- 21+ Minimum age to buy alcohol: 21.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat is illegal in the UAE under federal law, with possession and selling punishable by life imprisonment.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
- Laws in Qatar · compare with United Arab Emirates
- Laws in Bahrain · compare with United Arab Emirates
- Laws in Oman · compare with United Arab Emirates
- Laws in Kuwait · compare with United Arab Emirates
- Laws in Iran · compare with United Arab Emirates
- Laws in Saudi Arabia · compare with United Arab Emirates
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.