UAE Decriminalizes Attempted Suicide and Imposes Stricter Penalties for Abetment and Homicide

The UAE is set to decriminalize attempted suicide as part of sweeping amendments to the country's Crimes and Penalties Law. A previous amendment in 2020 to the legislation on attempted suicide had already granted judges the discretion to offer mental health treatment as an alternative to prison.

“The removal of criminal liability for attempted suicide recognizes that someone experiencing a crisis needs care and support,” said Dr Hassan Elhais, a lawyer at Amal Al Rashedi Lawyers and Legal Consultants. “Removing the fear of prosecution can encourage people to seek help earlier and give families greater confidence to request urgent assistance.”

State news agency Wam noted that this change improves the chances of early intervention, provides necessary care and support, and bolsters suicide prevention efforts. Meanwhile, the new laws also establish strict penalties for individuals whose actions lead someone to attempt taking their own life.

A prison sentence ranging from three to five years awaits anyone convicted of causing somebody to attempt suicide, provided the victim suffers a serious injury or permanent disability as a result. If a person's actions are found to have caused another individual to take their own life, the sentence is increased to up to seven years in prison. Furthermore, if someone causes a person under the age of 18 to attempt suicide, the charge is elevated to premeditated murder, and foreign citizens found guilty of these charges face deportation.

The legislative amendments also introduce a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years for those convicted of intentional homicide. Under the updated rules, even if the family of a victim waives their right to qisas—which entitles them to seek the maximum punishment—the offender must still serve 15 to 20 years in prison.

“This amendment strengthens the effectiveness of legal deterrence,” Wam reported. “It balances the right of the victim's heirs to concede their right to qisas, and the requirements of the public right and the protection of society from extremely serious crimes, within a justice system that safeguards rights and supports security and societal stability.”

Previously, offenders were required to serve a minimum of seven years in prison even if the victim's family waived their right to qisas.

“The 2026 amendments make the law easier to apply in two sensitive areas: they preserve a 15 to 20-year prison sentence after a family waives qisas in an intentional-killing case, and they set clearer, outcome-based penalties for anyone who encourages or assists another person’s suicide,” said Nikhat Sardar Khan, a Dubai-based lawyer.