Emirates reforms its laws to demonstrate international openness
On Saturday the United Arab Emirates government published a series of legal reforms that are immediately applicable and which, among other things, penalise the so-called "honour crimes", authorise cohabitation between people who are not related by blood or marriage, and the consumption of alcohol, albeit in private.
Suicide and attempted suicide are also decriminalised, although if someone is caught helping another person to commit suicide, that person may be sentenced to prison.
As far as women's rights are concerned, the figure of the "honour crime" whereby a relative of a woman had this status as a mitigating factor in the case of violence against that woman in order to "protect her honour" is no longer recognised.
In addition, the penalties for any type of aggression against women are increased, with the main intention of ending harassment on the streets, and the rape of a minor or a person with some kind of disability is punished with death.
Alcohol may be consumed and sold with a license. The age at which alcohol may be consumed is set at 21, so anyone caught selling alcohol to minors faces severe penalties. It also remains in force that alcohol may only be consumed privately or in authorised public places.
The changes are expected to have an unprecedented impact, as for the first time the law will allow unmarried couples to live together legally. Until now, it was considered a crime for an unmarried couple, or even unrelated roommates, to share a house in the Emirates.
Although court cases arising from these circumstances were not common, the law allowed a person to be charged with illegal consumption of alcohol in the event of being arrested for another crime. The same was true for the cohabitation of unmarried persons.
In addition, the new legislation allows the law of a foreigner's country of origin to be applied in cases of divorce and inheritance instead of the Sharia or Islamic law that has applied until now. The exception for separations is property acquired in the Emirates during marriage. Foreigners account for 90% of the country's population.
The UAE government has embarked on one of the biggest reforms of the legal system in years. The changes were announced on Saturday. Anyone who drinks, is in possession of alcohol or sells alcoholic beverages in licensed areas without an alcohol license will no longer face sanctions.
The laws, which have taken immediate effect, reflect progressive measures to improve living standards and consolidate the UAE as a destination for foreign direct investment and for people from all over the world.