What counts as abuse of office?
The Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (Crimes and Penalties Law) has a chapter on abuse of power. A public servant who, outside the cases set by law, arrests, incarcerates or detains any person is punished with incarceration (Article 288), and one who knowingly searches a person, home or workplace outside the legal cases or conditions is punished likewise (Article 289).
Article 262 punishes a public servant who unlawfully obtains, or attempts to obtain, a profit or interest for himself or a third party from an act related to his job duties, with temporary imprisonment.
What about harming the entity or collecting unlawful sums?
Article 264 punishes a public servant who deliberately harms the funds or interests of the entity he works for or of a third party entrusted to it, with temporary imprisonment. Article 263 punishes one involved in collecting taxes, duties or fines who knowingly demands what is not due or more than due, with temporary imprisonment of up to five years.
Embezzlement by public servants is dealt with in our embezzlement guide.
Is there a rule against force on suspects?
Yes. Article 290 punishes a public servant who, personally or through an intermediary, uses torture, force or threat against an accused, witness or expert to compel a confession, statement or information, or to conceal anything, with temporary imprisonment.
Article 291 punishes a public officer who punishes or orders the punishment of a convict with a penalty harsher than the one imposed, and Article 292 deals with holding a person in a penal establishment without an order or past the period set.
Who counts as a public servant?
Article 5 defines the term widely: federal and local employees, armed forces, security authorities, members of judicial authorities and councils, persons delegated by public authorities, managers and employees of public entities and of companies wholly or partly owned by the government, and employees of entities whose funds are public funds.
People who perform work connected to public service under contract with an entity whose funds are public funds are treated as entrusted with a public service. The crime remains punishable even after the job ends if it was committed during the capacity.
What should I do first?
Gather records of your authority
Orders, delegations and procedures followed.
Do not speak to colleagues about the allegation
It can be treated as interference.
Check your status under Article 5
It determines which article applies.
Take advice before any internal interview
Statements can be used.
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Frequently asked questions
Are these offences limited to civil servants?
Article 5 defines public servant broadly, including employees of government-owned companies and entities with public funds.
What is the penalty for profit from a job?
Temporary imprisonment (Article 262).
Can a unlawful search be a crime?
Yes. Article 289 punishes a public servant who knowingly searches outside the law with incarceration.
Is torture of a suspect a separate crime?
Yes. Article 290 provides temporary imprisonment.
Related guides
Bribery & Corruption overview
The main points, the process and your first steps.
Read the overviewBribery
Who can be charged with giving or taking a bribe, what counts as a bribe and the rules on time limits, attempts and informing the authorities.
Read the guideEmbezzlement
What the law says about embezzlement by public servants and by people entrusted with public service, and how it differs from private breach of trust.
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.