Dubai laws: Little known legislation that could catch you out

Research And Publications 23 Aug 2016 1122views

This Article was originaly posted in the British i News

Since Dubai’s arrival as a British holiday favourite, there have been several high-profile cases of Westerners finding themselves in violation of Dubai’s conservative laws. With penalties including lengthy jail sentences, astronomical fines and in some cases allegations of torture, visitors to the UAE may have concerns about falling foul of the law. Kissing in public, dressing modestly and being drunk and disorderly are perhaps well-known taboos, but as in the current case of Scott Richards – the British man jailed for sharing a charity Facebook post – tourists and expats can be caught out on lesser known violations such as:

Using someones wi-fi without them knowing

Earlier this year, Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department issued a ‘modern fatwa’ against using another person’s wi-fi connection without their knowledge. A fatwa is an Islamic law and modern fatwas are regularly created by the department to settle issues about contemporary living. The department stated “it is not allowed for people to use what belongs to others without payment or without their permission. Therefore, the Internet should be used only after subscribing for the service.” The law does not prohibit the use of open wi-fi designed for use by the general public.

Checking your spouse’s phone

Article 380 of the UAE federal penal code criminalises checking someone else’s phone if you do not have permission. The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department recently emphasized the law even where spouses, family and friends are concerned. In an interview with Emirates 247 in May, the Grand Mufti (the highest official of religious law) said that spying or checking somebody else’s phone is committing a forbidden act.

Being in debt

Under Sharia law, usury – participating in unethical loans – is strictly forbidden. The law is applied to both lenders and borrowers, and as such being in debt is illegal in UAE. However, custodial sentences are no longer applied to expats or visitors in UAE if a cheque bounces.

Swearing at someone via WhatsApp

Since October 2014, swearing or insulting someone online has been prohibited in the UAE. Penalties for this offence include a maximum fine of 250,000 AED (£52,000) and imprisonment. Foreigners found in violation of this law also risk deportation. Authorities in the UAE have also warned that the middle-finger emoji could also be punishable under this law.

Accidentally photographing a stranger in the background of your selfie

It is fairly well-known that photographing someone without permission in Dubai, particularly women and government buildings, is a punishable offence. What is less known is that this legislation includes accidental images of strangers caught in the background of your intended photographic subject. In the UAE, even strangers meandering in public places have a right to privacy, and taking their picture (accidentally or deliberately) without their consent is a violation of that right.

Supporting charities that are not registered in the UAE

New legislation prohibits the promotion of charities that are not registered in the UAE. In the case of Scott Richards ‘promotion’ didn’t just mean fundraising or volunteering for the charity, it merely meant sharing a Facebook post from a US-based charity, but with only 19 registered charities in Dubai, it is a law that could trip up visitors continuing to read home news on social media.

Tags: