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Sat, Jan 24, 2026 | Shaban 5, 1447 | Fajr 05:44 | DXB 
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UAE introduces strict penalties for sexual assault, consensual intercourse with minors
Another amendment clarifies that consent shall not be recognised unless the victim has completed 16 years of age
The UAE Government announced on Friday amendments to certain provisions of the Crimes and Penalties Law, including enforcing stricter penalties for offences involving sexual assault or consensual intercourse with minors.
Anyone who is 18 years of age and engages in sexual intercourse with a female, or engages in sexual activity with a person of the same sex, who is under 18 years of age, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten years and a fine of not less than Dh100,000, even if consent is alleged.
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Another amendment clarifies that consent shall not be recognised unless the victim has completed 16 years of age. Any individual under 18 years of age involved in consensual sexual acts shall be subject to the provisions of the Juvenile Delinquents and Juvenile at the Risk of Delinquency Law, whether the offender is male or female and regardless of the sex of the other party.
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The UAE government also tightened penalties for offences involving incitement, solicitation or enticement to debauchery or prostitution.
The penalty shall be imprisonment for not less than two years and a fine. The punishment is increased to imprisonment and a fine where the victim is a minor under 18 years of age.
“The (new) provisions reflect the UAE’s firm commitment to protecting minors from exploitation, abuse and harm,” the federal government underlined in introducing the amendments, adding: “The amendments reinforce the rule of law, enhance both general and specific deterrence, and ensure stronger protection for the most vulnerable segments of society.”
Upholding justice
Other amendments were introduced to enhance the judiciary’s ability to assess the criminal risk of offenders convicted in certain serious crimes.
One of the revisions allows the judicial authorities to subject the convicted person to medical, psychological and social examinations during the last six months of their sentence to have a comprehensive assessment of the criminal risk based on the offender’s history, behaviour, specialised tests and accredited professional reports.
Another amendment enables the Public Prosecution to submit a request to the competent court that issued the sentence to impose additional precautionary measures on the offender after serving the complete original penalty, if the offender’s continued criminal risk is established and such measures are necessary to preserve public safety.
These measures may include placement in rehabilitation centres, placement in therapeutic facilities, or submission to supervision or electronic monitoring. The court also retains full discretion in deciding on such requests.
Strengthening community protection
Regarding state security–related offences, an amendment was approved grant the court, upon a request by the Attorney General, the authority to suspend the execution of custodial sentences in certain offences affecting State security, provided there are serious grounds to justify confidence in the offender’s reform.
The suspension may be granted subject to one or more measures in the Crimes and Penalties Law, provided that the duration of such measures does not exceed the imposed sentence or its remaining term.
The court may also revoke the suspension order and return the offender to the correctional facility to serve the remaining sentence, upon a request by the Attorney General, if the offender breaches any court-imposed conditions or commits a new intentional offence during the term of the measure.
“This ensures a balanced approach that protects State security while enabling opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration,” the government noted.
Angel Tesorero
Angel Tesorero is Assistant Editor and designated funny guy in the newsroom, but dead serious about writing on transport, labour migration, and environmental issues. He is a food lover too.
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