How are threats punished?
Article 402 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (Crimes and Penalties Law) punishes with temporary imprisonment of up to seven years anyone who threatens another, in writing or orally, to commit a felony against their person or property or against another person, or to attribute or disclose dishonouring matters, where the threat is associated with a request to do or omit something.
Article 403 punishes similar threats without such a request with incarceration, and Article 404 punishes other threats by word, deed or allusion with incarceration of up to one year or a fine of up to AED 10,000.
What about online threats and extortion?
Article 42 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 (Cybercrimes Law) punishes using an information network to extort or threaten another to act or refrain from acting with imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine of AED 250,000 to AED 500,000. If the threat is to commit a crime or dishonourable acts, with an explicit or implicit request, the penalty is temporary imprisonment of up to ten years.
Article 43 punishes insulting another or attributing a quality that would expose them to punishment or contempt through an information network.
What about tracking and monitoring?
Article 44 of the Cybercrimes Law punishes using technology to invade a person's privacy without consent, including tracking, monitoring, revealing, copying or keeping the geographic location data of third parties, with imprisonment of at least six months and/or a fine of AED 150,000 to AED 500,000.
The same article covers recording or broadcasting conversations and taking or publishing photos of people without consent.
What about persistent unwanted contact?
The Crimes Law punishes sexual harassment, defined as persistent behaviour which disturbs the victim through repeated acts, words or gestures that offend their modesty with the intention of causing them to submit to sexual desires, with incarceration of not less than one year and/or a fine of not less than AED 10,000 (Article 413).
Within a family, domestic violence includes threats and psychological harm (Article 4 of the Domestic Violence Law). If you are the victim, keep records and report to the police.
What should I do first?
Keep evidence of every contact
Screenshots with dates.
Do not reply to threats
Preserve and report instead.
If accused, stop all contact
Contact can be treated as a breach.
Get advice before any statement
Intent and context matter.
Call us on +971 50 653 1334 or message us on WhatsApp. We answer at any hour.
Frequently asked questions
Is a threatening message a crime?
Yes. Articles 402 to 404 punish threats, and Article 42 of the Cybercrimes Law punishes cyber threats and extortion.
Is tracking someone's location illegal?
Without consent, Article 44 of the Cybercrimes Law punishes tracking and monitoring location data.
What is sexual harassment?
Persistent behaviour that offends the victim's modesty with the intention of making them submit to sexual desires (Article 413).
Is it a crime to insult someone online?
Article 43 of the Cybercrimes Law punishes insulting or attributing a disgraceful quality to someone through an information network.
Related guides
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Read the overviewDomestic Violence Law
What the 2024 domestic violence law covers, who counts as family, how reports are handled and the penalties, including when reconciliation is possible.
Read the guideRestraining Orders
Who can issue a restraining order, how long it lasts, what it can prohibit and how to challenge it.
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. Source: Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 (Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes), official English text on the UAE Legislation portal, checked 9 October 2026. The portal lists the law as active and last updated on 4 April 2024, with one amendment. The Arabic text prevails over translations.
This page is general information, not legal advice.