Q: Hi, I have a problem. The house owner in UAE, Dubai asked me today to pay a fine for returned cheque 5,000 AED in case the cheque bounced and it is written in the contract. Today they called me asking for the fine anyway they say they gave the cheque to another bank to collect the money and the other bank rejected it. I called my bank and they said no one gave them any cheque. So the owner wants the fine and the rent. What should I do?

Q: Hi Sir, "Under a new criminal order issued by the Dubai Attorney General Essam Al Humaidan, a range of minor offences – including bouncing cheques and failing to pay rent – will no longer be put through the court system and instead be treated as a misdemeanour subject to a financial penalty. The new ruling, which will come into effect in December, means those responsible for bounced cheques of up to Dh50,000 will be fined Dh2,000, while those who bounce cheques of between Dh50,000 and Dh100,000 must pay a Dh5,000 fine, with a Dh10,000 fine for cheques between Dh100,000 and Dh200,000". I have seen this new rule and I would like to know if this already started and if I already have a criminal case how can I pay the fine?

Q: Dear Sir, I need an advice on my three rental cheques of AED 4800 each, which bounced in Sharjah and the landlord has filed a complaint in Sharjah Police Station. Alongside, the court has ordered to vacate the place. I have been jobless for the last 15 months and I have told the judge about my condition. What do I have to do now? As per the new rule on cheque bounce, can I hire a lawyer and pay a fine for my bounced cheque and be released from the police station so that I can apply for a new job? Please guide me.

Q: Dear Ma'am, Need your advice. I took a loan of AED 64000 more than a year ago and currently the outstanding amount is AED 51000. But as I don't have a job now, I am unable to pay the rest. As I know from 2019, there is no imprisonment or criminal case but if the bank files a civil case against me the fine will be around 5000 AED imposed upon me by the court. Currently, even I don't have a single penny and I am struggling for daily expenses. Kindly let me know how much time will the court give me to pay the AED 5000 fine. If I can't pay the fine within 1 month or 2 months time, what will be the consequences? Also, let me know how I will be able to lift a travel ban if the bank imposes it on me somehow.

Q: My husband was arrested with a criminal case and then set free with a 10k fine. He was recently arrested again because he didn't pay the fine yet. We applied for an installment plan but it was rejected. He has been there for 5 days now, what else can we do to take him out? We don't have the 10k to pay it fully.

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 Decree by Law amend the Federal Law No. (18) of 1993 by replacing Clause (4) of Article (379) as well as Articles (600), (617), (641), (642), (643), (644), and adding new articles numbered (635) Bis, (641) Bis (1), (641) Bis (2), (641) Bis (3), (641) Bis (4), (643) Bis (1), (643) Bis (2), (644) Bis (1) and (644) Bis (2). The Decree-Law also repeals Articles (401), (402) and (403) of the Federal Law No. (3) of 1987.

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).