The UAE has amended its Crimes and Penalties Law through a Federal Decree Law that decriminalises attempted suicide and restructures penalties related to incitement and assistance to suicide, alongside changes to provisions governing qisas, the Islamic legal principle of retribution.
The most significant shift is the removal of criminal liability for individuals who attempt suicide. Under the new law, attempted suicide is no longer a punishable offence.
The stated intent is to encourage people in psychological crisis to seek help without fear of prosecution, improving the chances of early intervention and allowing authorities to redirect such cases toward care and support rather than the courts.
On qisas, the law amends Article 384 to set a sentence of not less than 15 years and not more than 20 years imprisonment in cases where the victim’s heirs waive their right to retribution at any stage of proceedings or before a sentence is carried out. The change is designed to preserve a legal deterrent even when heirs exercise their right to concede qisas.
For those who incite or assist another person to attempt or complete suicide, the law establishes a tiered penalty structure. Where a person attempts suicide as a result of incitement or assistance but does not die, the penalty is detention and a fine, or either.
Where the attempt results in permanent disability, illness, or inability to carry out personal tasks for more than 20 days, the penalty rises to imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than five years, plus a fine.
Where the incitement or assistance leads to the person’s death, imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than seven years applies.
Age and mental capacity are treated as aggravating factors. Where the victim is under 18 or has diminished will or perception, the aggravated circumstances increase the penalty. Where the victim who died by or attempted suicide entirely lacked will or perception, the person who incited or assisted them is liable to the same penalty prescribed for intentional murder or attempted intentional murder.
Any foreign national convicted under the incitement or assistance provisions faces deportation following their sentence.
The law also includes a provision allowing courts to exempt an offender from punishment if, before the suicide is completed, they voluntarily intervened and successfully prevented the death. The exemption does not apply where the attempt resulted in permanent disability or incapacitation of more than 20 days.
