Public prosecutors in the UAE were given the authority to file legal charges over those overstaying in the country as part of the violations included in the 30 offences, where they have been given powers to issue or cancel criminal orders and impose fines.
The new decision empowers prosecutors to punish anyone who stays in the country for a period not exceeding 90 days after their visa expires. Violators will face a fine of AED 1,000.
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Overstaying among 30 Offences in UAE New Order, Fines of up to AED 10,000
UAE’s Attorney General, Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has issued decree No. 119 of 2019 on the penal order. The said order gives members of the public prosecution, who are below the grade of chief prosecutor in their department, the power to cancel or amend the criminal order issued by members of the public prosecution within seven days of its issuance, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.
Other offences mentioned in the new order include the issuance of dud cheques, defamation, eating in public during Ramadan, illegal stay in the country, traffic offences, and many others.
The decree maintains that the penal order shall be applied and a fine will be prescribed for each of the crimes listed in the new decision.
As per the announcement, the new decree has listed 30 offences and corresponding fines, including 21 from the Federal Penal Code, four from the Federal Law No. 6 of 1973 on the entry and residence of foreigners and its amendments, and five penalties from the Federal Law No. 21 of 1973 on traffic and its amendments. It also sets out fines ranging from AED 1,000 to AED 10,000 for the various offences.
Fines in New Order
Accordingly, the new decision allows the prosecutors to impose a fine of
- AED 2,000 – anyone caught eating or drinking in public during the day in the month of Ramadan
- AED 1,000 – penalty for a person attempting to commit suicide
- AED 5,000 – defamation of public officials
- AED 1,000 – fine for overstaying, the new decision authorizes prosecutors to punish anyone who stays in the country for a period not exceeding 90 days after their visa expires with a fine of AED 1,000.
- AED 2,000 – fine for persons who stay in hotel or rent cars/trucks but unjustifiably refrain from paying.
- AED 100,000 – fine for person giving a dud checque.
- AED 5,000 – dine for person giving a person a dud checque of up to AED 100,000
- AED 10,000 – dine for person giving a person a dud checque of up to AED 200,000
The move by the government reinforces the need for all foreign residents to adhere to visa policies while in the country, and curtails incidences of illegal (digital) transactions, which are becoming more prevalent in the country as of late.
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