How long does the State have to bring a criminal case?
Under Article 21 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2022 (Criminal Procedures Law), the criminal action is time-barred after 20 years for felonies, five years for misdemeanours and one year for infractions, counted from the day the crime occurred.
Offences of Qisas and Diya, and felonies punishable by death or life imprisonment, are excluded from those periods.
What stops the limitation clock?
Article 22 says investigation, accusation or trial procedures, criminal conciliation and plea bargaining procedures, and fact-finding procedures against the accused, or an official notice of them, interrupt the limitation period.
When several procedures interrupt it, the period restarts from the last one. If there are several accused, interrupting it for one interrupts it for all. Article 21(3) adds that the running period is not suspended for any reason.
What are the other time limits in a case?
A complaint-based offence must be reported within three months of the victim learning of it (Article 11). The police must send an arrested person to prosecution within 48 hours and the prosecutor must question them within 24 hours (Article 48).
Detention periods are seven days renewable for up to 14 more, then up to 30 days at a time (Article 107). After judgment there are 15 days to appeal and 30 days for cassation (Articles 234 and 245).
Does a time bar mean I can ignore a case?
No. Time-barring depends on dates, interruptions and the type of offence, and a case already opened can have interrupted the clock.
Never assume a case has expired. Ask a lawyer to calculate it from the file.
What should I do first?
List the key dates
Offence date, complaint date, first procedure.
Check each procedure that interrupts the clock
Summons, questioning, notices.
Diary the short deadlines
48 hours, 24 hours, 15 days, 30 days.
Get your lawyer to confirm in writing
Do not rely on assumptions.
Call us on +971 50 653 1334 or message us on WhatsApp. We answer at any hour.
Frequently asked questions
How long before a misdemeanour is time-barred?
Five years from the day it occurred (Article 21(2)), subject to interruption.
Is there a limit for felonies?
Twenty years, except for Qisas, Diya, and felonies punishable by death or life imprisonment.
Can a procedure restart the limitation clock?
Yes. Investigation, accusation, trial and similar procedures interrupt it (Article 22).
What is the limit for a petty offence?
One year from the day it occurred.
Related guides
Criminal Case Process overview
The main points, the process and your first steps.
Read the overviewComplaint Withdrawal
When a complainant's withdrawal ends a criminal case and when it does not, and the deadline for filing a complaint.
Read the guideCase Closure
The ways a criminal case can end, including dismissal by the Public Prosecution, termination by waiver or time bar, and judgment.
Read the guideSources
Source: Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2022 (Criminal Procedures Law), official English text on the UAE Legislation portal, checked 9 October 2026. The portal lists the law as active and last updated on 28 September 2023. The Arabic text prevails over translations.
This page is general information, not legal advice.