Legal Stuff, Getting Arrested etc.

[Andy Capp]

Just as a further point to my bit on Credit Cards on THIS thread, I thought it might be an idea to give you your rights should you ever be arrested (I truly hope this doesn't happen to you, but forewarned is forearmed). An example, you're in a car accident where someone is hurt, even though it might not be your fault you will be arrested and held until it is worked out who is to blame....

This IS how Dubai works... (based on a long conversation with a mate who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and went through the whole process....).

You will be taken to the police station that is local to where the incident occurred. Where no-one will tell you much, and you'll end up in one of the cells, these aren't particularly nice places and everyone will try to rip you off, so if you have some cash (you'll be searched before you go in, so no mobiles etc.) keep it secure and don't "large it". You can buy phonecards for access to the telephone, you will not be given a fee phone call, you can buy toiletries and snacks inside but they'll be at rip-off prices, ie 1 packet of cigarettes AED50!! You won't (unless it's very, very quiet) get a bed, you'll be lucky to get a mattress and blanket, the showers are disgusting, the toilets even worse. Ring your Embassy by all means, but they can't get you out...

You may be offered bail at this point if you're a good blagger, but usually you wont.

By law you MUST be seen by the public prosecutor within 48 hours of arrest (unless unfit by drink, injury or drugs), in order to satisfy this requirement you will be seen by a police officer within 24 hours of your arrest where you will be asked about the circumstances of the incident. TELL THE TRUTH. It'll be worse for you if you don't.

You will be asked to sign a document in Arabic, upto you, you don't know what you're signing and if it goes to court then your sig is on it, so tough. You can demand that it gets translated into your mother tongue BUT this will slow down the process.

When you get to the Public Prosecutor (Neeabba (phonetically)), you wait for ages - it can be 2am when you're called to go, he conducts the interrogation in Arabic, you should have a translator, an English translator is always there, if you speak Spanish only (for example) then you'll need to wait for a few more days in the cells until you can be seen with a translator. You will be asked to sign your statement that's written in Arabic, again, up to you, if you refuse, the document will go to the translation dept in the PP's office, when it comes out in your language sign it. While you're at the PP's office ask for bail, the PP will decide whether or not he's going to give you it and under what circumstances. It will always include your's and, if you only have a visit visa, another male's passport with valid residency stamp. KEEP THIS DOCUMENT (even though it's written in Arabic) you'll need it to get bail.

Assuming bail conditions can be satisfied, you can be bailed at the police station of your arrest for a period of x days.

Take a note of your case number, you can get updates of what is happening by calling PP's call centre on 700040000, then 2,1,7, (it's a "Push 2 for English" type system), but you need either the case number (on top of the document from PP or the police file number (on your arrest paper - both in Arabic).

Lawyer's. Depending on the severity of your case and how much money you have depends on whether it's worth hiring a lawyer. a lawyer will charge you in advance and you have no recourse, they may not even turn up in court, but will send their minion. Up to you, for example, you're drunk and/or had a fight, don't bother, you're drink driving, don't bother.

At court you'll have a translator (or you should have) if you do not it'll be adjourned, all conversation takes place in Arabic and you will have no idea what's being said, the translator will not give you word-for-word, he'll summarise and quite often will miss out salient points. He doesn't care. You can always bring your own (paid for) translator but they're $$$. If you have a lawyer he'll say everything to the judge and ignore you, you'll probably say nothing but confirm your name. Judges don't like anything other than Arabic spoken in the courtroom.

There are 3 people on the bench, the judge is in the centre, his male secretary is on his left, and the Public Prosecutor (who is also the judges sponsor) sits on his right. Surprisingly most defendants (c90%) are found guilty....

You can appeal the verdict as soon as it's given (unless you're still in custody where it's off to Al Awir for you and you appeal the next day). It costs AED10 to appeal and your appeal will be heard when ever it's heard 3-8 weeks depending on how busy things are.

(Men, I don't know any women who've gone through this part). You get to central jail in Al Awir having spent 6 hours in the cells below the courthouse.... Where you get given a white uniform, no coloured anythings allowed, so white pant/socks etc.. You're then searched again (hash and phones have been found in there and certainly in police cells) and off you go to the transit section where you may if you're lucky get a bed, but more likely you'll be on your blanket (which isn't washed) on the floor. Each "Amber" - room - has 96 bunks making a total of 192 beds. Later your photo gets taken and the next day you're transferred to your amber for the duration of your sentence.

Breakfast is served at 5am, lunch at 11am and supper at 5pm. Hope you like rice....

there is a shop there that sells stuff like crisps, coke, choc, phonecards, toiletries, you're allowed to go twice a week.

there are phone booths there and depending on what you've been done for depends on how often you can use them - illegal sex, ie living with a woman who isn't your wife, and it's once a week for 5 minutes, (this is what my mate was done for, and he didn't have sex with her, she robbed him of AED60K, he reported it and was done for living with her).

On day of release you're let out of the jail, hope you've got transport cos it's a long walk...

Any questions, please feel free, I'll not be able to answer them all, but i probably know a man who can....

Elph - Sticky?

[Ogri750]

Great post andy..........very informative

Now, will the hacker who cracked Andy's account please let the real Andy sign back in

[Andrew Farrant]

Out of interest - if you are convicted of a crime which is morally and legally acceptable in the west, like living with someone, how long is the sentence and do you get deported once your sentence is finished ?

[Andy Capp]

Andrew,

I'll answer your question directly. 3-6 months and deport.

However it is unlikely you'll be arrested for it unless either someone complains or another offence is commited (eg, you have a burglary)...

[Andrew Farrant]

WOW !!!!! Big life changing stuff for what in our terms (yes, I know we are running under UAE law and I respect that) is a very minor transgression. This "illegal sex" and co-habitation issue is probably my greatest worry about dubai.

We are all human and red blooded so how do people cope with this law ? Drugs no problem, drink driving no problem, everything else no problem - it is all common sense and stuff you should not do anyway but life would be miserable without normal human contact so how do people get around it ? Surely you don't have to scuttle off into the shadows or go camping in the desert to have a girlfriend ?

The question is not a sleazy one, it is meant very seriously :-) I am looking to come to dubai maybe as early as 1st March if the company can pull it's finger out so I am frantically trying to learn as much as I can.

For example - if you have two rooms, is having a female flat mate living in the other room still classed as co-habitation ?

[Andy Capp]

The fact that lots of people do such things, does not mean that it's legal.

[sgilli3]

Originally Posted by Andy Capp

The fact that lots of people do such things, does not mean that it's legal.

Spot on Andy.

Also note- that even with a 2 bed apartment etc- you can not share with the opposite sex unless you are married or related ( siblings etc)

[Andrew Farrant]

Ah ....... comprende

Is it a question of no one ever knowing or provided you are discreet a blind eye is turned ?

[ranjeet]

I have a flat in dubai, but reading all these extreme laws and rules, makes me want to sell it.. get my profit and leave! The rules are very intimidating!

[Ogri750]

If you are dicreet, no-one will know you aren't married.

Just wouldn't advise a chorus line of young ladies in and out of your apartment