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The UAE government announced amendments to the Crimes and Penalties Law on October 8 that remove all criminal penalties for attempted suicide and redirect such cases toward prevention, treatment and humanitarian support. The changes complete a shift begun in 2020 when courts first gained discretion to order mental health care as an alternative to punishment. Multiple legal experts have welcomed the update as a progressive measure that prioritises care over prosecution, according to reports published by Khaleej Times and The National.
Salam Pappinissery, CEO of Yab Legal Services, told Khaleej Times that attempted suicide had previously been punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine of up to Dh5,000 or both under Article 386 of Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021. Courts often showed leniency and referred individuals for treatment given the psychological context, Pappinissery noted. “People in psychological crises need care, not prosecution,” he said, adding that eliminating legal repercussions will encourage both affected individuals and their families to seek assistance at an earlier stage.
Psychologists anticipate the law will produce several concrete improvements in how mental health risks are identified and addressed. Fatima Simi Anwar, general manager at Bloom Beyond, outlined four expected changes in a Khaleej Times interview, beginning with greater honesty from hospital patients who previously described suicide attempts as accidents to avoid prosecution. The reform should also lead to earlier disclosures from those contemplating suicide before any action occurs, she added.
Families may become more willing to intervene when they notice signs of distress in relatives now that disclosure carries no criminal risk, according to the psychologists who spoke with Khaleej Times. Nailah Mahmood, clinical psychologist at the German Neuroscience Centre, said the amendment will strengthen trust in therapeutic relationships. “Disclosing such information will not get the client in trouble,” Mahmood stated, underscoring how the legal shift supports open conversations that were previously inhibited.
The amendment builds upon the 2020 revisions to the Penal Code that first de-emphasised criminalisation of self-harm without injury to others, a step documented across outlets including Gulf News. Dr Tina Mistry, a clinical psychologist quoted by The National, described the latest change as evidence of government commitment to mental health support. She noted that fear of criminal proceedings had previously deterred many people from admitting suicidal thoughts, limiting opportunities for timely intervention.
In parallel the decree establishes graduated penalties for anyone who incites or assists a suicide, the UAE government statement detailed. Offenders face detention and a fine, or either, if the attempt produces no serious harm, while penalties rise to three to five years imprisonment plus a fine if permanent disability or extended incapacity results. A term of five to seven years imprisonment applies if the incitement or assistance leads to death, with aggravating factors for victims under 18 or those with diminished capacity.
The legal package also revises qisas provisions to impose 15 to 20 years imprisonment when heirs waive retribution in intentional killing cases, according to lawyers cited in The National. Authorities described the overall reforms as balancing justice, public protection and humanitarian considerations while improving data collection on psychological crises. Psychologists have cautioned that mental health services must expand capacity to meet expected increases in demand following the decriminalisation.
