UAE Rulers often grant pardons or wider decrees on Eid or National Day. These acts focus on mercy and stop penalties. They do not usually end ongoing trials unless the decree says so.
Here is how it works in practice.
What changes for existing convictions
- Pardons forgive the penalty. They can trigger release or a shorter term. Public examples include large inmate pardons by the President.
- Amnesties cancel penalties for set groups, such as visa overstayers. Records can remain unless the decree removes them.
- Royal decrees can be broad. They often cover people who served all or part of a sentence, without granting full acquittal.
What happens to ongoing cases
- Trials continue unless the decree expressly stops them.
- Some decrees allow status fixes during open cases, as seen in general visa amnesties. Criminal trials still run unless covered by the amnesty.
- Minor offenses can fall within sweeping decrees. Serious crimes stay excluded.
The core differences at a glance
- Pardon: For convicted persons. It can halt enforcement before or during execution at the authority’s discretion. Sentence is forgiven, but the conviction can remain.
- Amnesty: For groups. It enables status fixes while cases exist. It cancels penalties but does not erase guilt.
- Royal decree: Broad clemency. It mainly covers full or partial sentences already served. It usually does not grant full acquittal.
Legal status after a pardon
- A pardon stops prison or fine enforcement. Freedom returns, but the conviction often stays until you secure rehabilitation.
- Civil limits can linger, such as bars on certain roles or licenses, unless lifted by the decree.
How to regain full legal capacity
- Administrative (via Public Prosecution): After sentence execution or a pardon in minor cases, rehabilitation follows. Recidivists may need six months.
- Judicial: Courts can grant rehabilitation after set waiting periods, including six months for non-serious felonies.
Rights that a pardon does not fix
- The conviction can still affect jobs, travel, or residency until rehabilitation occurs.
- Third-party claims survive both a pardon and rehabilitation.
Case study snapshot
- Overstayer during a visa amnesty: The person regularizes status while a minor criminal file remains open. The court case proceeds unless the amnesty covers it. If later convicted and pardoned, the penalty ends, but the record can persist until rehabilitation.
- Convicted for a non-serious felony and pardoned: The inmate walks free. Six months later, they apply for judicial rehabilitation to clear future effects. Civil claims from victims remain enforceable.
Action list for families and defendants
- Read the decree’s scope. Check if it covers pending trials or only penalties.
- Confirm whether your offense class is excluded. Serious crimes are usually outside.
- If pardoned, plan your rehabilitation application as soon as eligible.
- Track civil exposure. A pardon does not cancel private claims.
Mercy can reset the path, but the legal clean-up is a second step. Act fast, and sequence your applications the right way.
‘Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The author assumes no responsibility or liability for actions taken based on its contents. For advice on your specific situation, consult a qualified lawyer.
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