UAE residents were threatened with prison for attacking government officials.
The United Arab Emirates prosecutor’s office has reminded about the criminal responsibility for attacks on civil servants. Violators expect fines of up to 100 thousand dirhams or up to one year in prison.
Specifically, the crime, as stated in article 297 of Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 on Crimes and Penalties, is violence or threats against the holders of public office as well as improperly forcing them to violate their official duties.
The penalties of a fine and imprisonment apply together if the offense was committed with malice, by a group of persons, with a weapon, or with battery on a public official.
In November 2021, a 31-year-old Asian resident of Dubai was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a female police officer. The young woman attacked a Dubai police officer right at the station after she was denied a job with the law enforcement agency.
In spring 2021, the Criminal Court of Ras Al Khaimah Emirate sentenced a local woman to 10 years in prison and a fine of AED 500,000 (US$ 136,000) for insulting and threatening police officers. The incident occurred during an investigation into an apartment theft case.
In 2019, a 22-year-old Russian woman stood trial in Dubai and was accused of resisting arrest, beating and verbally abusing police officers. Specifically, she injured four police officers, including two female law enforcement officers.
In 2018, a Russian tourist in Dubai, while intoxicated, attacked a police officer, bit her face, and then smashed the window of a squad car with her head.