What is forgery of a document?
Under Article 251 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (Crimes and Penalties Law), forgery of a document is a change of its genuineness by any of the listed means, resulting in harm, for the purpose of using it as a valid instrument.
The listed means include changing a document by addition, deletion or alteration, putting a forged signature or seal, fabricating a document and attributing it to a third party, and altering the truth in a document made to verify it.
What are the penalties?
Forgery of an official document is punished by imprisonment of up to ten years, and forgery of a non-official document by incarceration (Article 252).
Forging a copy of an official document that was used, or using one knowing of its forgery, carries imprisonment of up to five years, and incarceration for an unofficial document (Article 253). Whoever knowingly uses a forged document gets the penalty for the forgery itself (Article 258).
Does this cover contracts and commercial documents?
Yes. The article applies to any document, including contracts, invoices and commercial papers. The question is whether the document is official or non-official, because that sets the penalty.
Altering a contract after signing, filling in a blank signed page without consent and fabricating a document in someone else's name are each listed means of forgery.
What must be shown, and what defences exist?
That the document was changed or made in one of the listed ways, that harm resulted, and that it was done to use it as a valid instrument.
Defences include that the document is genuine, that you did not make or alter it, that you did not know it was forged, that there was no harm, or that the signature or alteration was authorised. Expert examination of the document is often central.
What should I do first?
Secure the original document
Originals matter more than copies.
Do not alter or re-sign anything
That creates new problems.
Identify who made and held it
Build a timeline.
Ask about an independent expert
A second opinion can change the case.
Call us on +971 50 653 1334 or message us on WhatsApp. We answer at any hour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the penalty for forging an official document?
Imprisonment of up to ten years (Article 252).
What if I only used the document?
Whoever knowingly uses a forged document is punished with the penalty for forgery (Article 258).
Does forgery apply to emails and e-documents?
The Cybercrimes Law separately punishes forging e-documents (Article 14), with different penalties.
Is a forged signature the only type of forgery?
No. Article 251 lists seven means, including altering a document and filling a blank signed paper.
Related guides
Forgery overview
The main points, the process and your first steps.
Read the overviewSignature Forgery
When a signature, seal or thumbprint is forged, tricked out of someone, or put on a blank paper, and how experts examine signatures.
Read the guideFraud
How the Crimes and Penalties Law defines fraud, what must be proved, and how a commercial dispute is separated from a crime.
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.