What is bribery under UAE law?
Article 275 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (Crimes and Penalties Law) punishes a public servant, a person entrusted with a public service, a foreign public servant or an employee of an international organisation who, directly or indirectly, requests, accepts, takes or promises an unentitled gift, privilege or grant, for themselves or for another, in return for performing or omitting an act within their duties or violating them.
It applies even if they intended not to perform the act, and even if the request or acceptance came after the act. Article 276 covers doing so for an act wrongly believed or claimed to be among their duties. Arbitrators, experts and fact-finders are treated as public servants within their assignment (Article 277).
What about the person who offers the bribe?
Article 280 punishes anyone who offers or gives an unentitled gift, benefit or grant to a public servant in return for performing or omitting an act in violation of duties, with temporary imprisonment of up to five years.
Article 282 punishes anyone who intercedes to influence the briber or the bribed. Article 281 punishes requesting or accepting a gift or promise to use real or alleged influence to obtain an unentitled benefit from a public body, with imprisonment of not less than one year and/or a fine of not less than AED 20,000, and up to five years if the person is a public servant.
What else follows a conviction?
Under Article 283 the perpetrator is fined an amount equivalent to what was requested, offered or accepted, with a minimum of AED 5,000, and the gift is confiscated.
Attempt is punished with the same penalty as the completed crime (Article 287). The criminal lawsuit does not expire with time and the adjudged penalty is not forfeited (Article 286). The law also applies to acts abroad where the perpetrator or victim is a citizen, an employee of the State's public or private sector, or public funds are affected (Article 285).
Can reporting protect me?
Yes. The briber or intermediary is exempted from the penalty if they inform the judicial or administrative authorities of the crime before it is discovered (Article 284).
That makes the timing of any disclosure critical, and it is a decision to take only with legal advice.
What should I do first?
Preserve all communications and records
Messages, invoices, meeting notes.
Do not delete or move anything
It looks like concealment.
List every benefit and the reason for it
Gifts, hospitality, payments.
Take advice before any disclosure
Article 284 turns on timing.
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Frequently asked questions
Is offering a gift to an official a crime?
Offering an unentitled gift in return for an act in violation of duties is punished under Article 280.
What is the penalty for accepting a bribe?
Temporary imprisonment (Article 275), plus a fine equal to the bribe, at least AED 5,000, and confiscation (Article 283).
Does bribery have a time limit?
No. The criminal lawsuit does not expire by lapse of time (Article 286).
Is attempt punished?
Yes, with the same penalty as the completed crime (Article 287).
Related guides
Bribery & Corruption overview
The main points, the process and your first steps.
Read the overviewPrivate Sector Corruption
How the law treats bribes given to or taken by people working in private companies, for both the person who pays and the person who receives.
Read the guideAbuse of Public Office
What the law says about public servants who misuse their powers, take profit from their job, harm their entity or use unlawful force against accused persons.
Read the guideSources
Source: Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (Crimes and Penalties Law), official English text on the UAE Legislation portal, checked 9 October 2026. The portal lists the law as active and last updated on 7 September 2026. The Arabic text prevails over translations.
This page is general information, not legal advice.