Q: Why is the sentence for smoking weed fine and deportation in Dubai while it's two years and deportation in Abu Dhabi? Can the sentence be appealed and reduced? How can we get the name of the accused on the pardon list?

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 daughter was arrested from our residence in Dubai on 29 August for drugs. We had just got back from vacation two weeks prior, where she had smoked weed. She has spent a month in jail and yesterday was her hearing. She is sentenced to AED 5000 and deportation. We will appeal on Sunday. Question is, what are the charges for us to get her out on bail? Can the deportation be cancelled? We have been living in Dubai for 30 years and have nowhere to send her.

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.

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.