Q: My brother friend had been caught by CID whilst smoking marijuana and had marijuana in his possession. He told CID that my brother gave him. My brother was called downstairs from his office by his friend. When he came down, CID questioned him, beat him and searched him. They did not find anything on my brother nor in his car. Both my brother and his friend were registered under the same case number and taken to Bur Dubai police station. They had a drug test which was positive. They've been shifted to central Al Awir jail 1 month ago. My brother denied everything in the 1st & 2nd hearings in Neyaba (Public Prosecution). Now, they have charged my brother with facilitation of drugs to others and using drugs. They have now referred my brother case to Abu Dhabi, but his friend who was found with drugs is in Dubai court and has a small charge of using only. My brother is a 29-year-old engineer who spent his whole life in the UAE and has no police case on him ever before. What will happen now? Will they only deport him or will they punish him?

Q: Hi, My fiance was arrested due to drug possession. The prosecutor in Dubai dropped the charges and ordered deportation after 30 days being in jail, so he doesn't have an order for deportation from the court as he didn't go to the court. What are the chances for him to get back to the UAE as he has a good job offer and what is the procedure to do that? Thank you

Q: I would like to know the punishment and charges for abuse and possession of narcotic substances listed in the table (1 2 4) for a group of 4 people. I also like to know how long will it take for the first hearing they got caught on 6th august 2021.

Q: Hello, I have a deportation and fine verdict due to a drug case. My fines are already paid. Now there is only deportation. I would like to confirm the procedure how to book a ticket in public prosecution. Do I have to bring my stuff if I go to the public prosecution? Will they detain me there or bring me to Aweer? Or will they just check the possible flight for me? How are the eye-scanning and hand-prints processes?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am involved in a drug case for possession and use of illegal substances. I was bailed out on February 17 and had a court hearing on April 17, which I did not attend. The judgment was made in absentia, with a penalty of a 5000 dirham fine. I paid the fine before the Eid holidays, and the "wanted" status was cleared. However, the public prosecution has appealed the judgment, arguing that the penalty was too lenient. I have another hearing on May 17. Should I file an appeal now or after the hearing on the 17th?

Q: Dear Lawyers, My friend has been charged with a case of possession of a narcotic substance schedule 3 for personal use, on 1st March 2023. The quantity was very small, maybe 5 gm. The case is now in public prosecution under investigation, and he is currently on a travel ban as well. My question is as per the new law on drugs and as a first-time offense, what would be the verdict? Can he get a new visa and change jobs during this phase? How much time does it take to finish the case?

Q: My brother got arrested in some drug case. It's almost 2 months. Through his case number, we have searched online and found two charges on him but there is no data on the final charge. His case papers are transferred to Abu Dhabi. Firstly, he was in Alkhwaneej police station and five days ago, he was transferred to a new jail without any judgment. What should we do now because he was transferred without any judgment? How much time will it take in the Abu Dhabi investigation? What will be the punishment and how much time it'll take? Is bail possible?

Q: Hello, One of my friends was arrested by the CID for drug use. It has been 4 days since then, and we do not know where they took him. We have been looking for him in every police station, but he is not there. What should we do in this case? What is the process?

An interview-format article covering the topic of drug use and rehabilitation in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

A legal concept upheld by the Federal Supreme Court states that drug use is not prosecuted by UAE courts if the offense occurred abroad. A positive drug test is accepted as proof of drug use, but it does not reveal whether the drug use occurred domestically or abroad. It is necessary to establish the crime's location in order to decide if the UAE courts have the authority to investigate it or if foreign courts should have jurisdiction over it.

This Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

The provisions of this Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law, known as the "New UAE Penal Code", governs criminal actions in the United Arab Emirates. The New Penal Code repeals the previous UAE Penal Code (Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 Promulgating the Penal Code).