UAE Decriminalizes Attempted Suicide, Introduces Seven-Year Sentence for Inciting Self-Harm

The UAE government issued a Federal Decree Law on October 8 amending the Crimes and Penalties Law to decriminalize attempted suicide while introducing graduated penalties of up to seven years imprisonment for inciting or assisting another person to take their own life, according to statements reported by The National, Gulf News, Khaleej Times, and Arabian Business. The amendment removes criminal liability for individuals who attempt suicide, replacing a previous provision that carried up to six months imprisonment or a fine of up to Dh5,000. The law establishes three to five years imprisonment for causing someone to attempt suicide resulting in serious injury or permanent disability, up to seven years if the attempt results in death, and stricter penalties when victims are under 18 or have diminished capacity. A 2020 amendment had given judges discretion to offer mental health treatment as an alternative to prison.

The legal shift is designed to encourage individuals experiencing psychological crises to seek help without fear of prosecution, improving early intervention prospects and reducing mental health stigma, according to state news agency WAM and legal experts quoted in the reporting. The change aligns the UAE's approach with a preventive and therapeutic model rather than a punitive one, while maintaining criminal accountability for those who encourage or facilitate suicide. However, recruitment of mental health specialists remains a significant challenge across the UAE, with a noted scarcity of psychiatrists and subspecialty professionals, according to The National reporting on October 9.

Sources

The National, October 8, 2026, thenationalnews.com; Gulf News, October 8, 2026 (via Nukta republication), nukta.com; Khaleej Times, October 8, 2026, khaleejtimes.com; Arabian Business, October 8, 2026, arabianbusiness.com; The National, October 9, 2026, thenationalnews.com