Watch out, here are nine ways you could run afoul of the law
Lack of awareness about some UAE laws could land you in legal and financial trouble
The UAE is a safe and secure country because of its has laws and regulations that protect residents and visitors. While most laws are pretty straightforward, there are some that are culturally significant to the region. Violating them accidentally could land you in legal and financial trouble.
Crossing the street
Apart from being extremely dangerous, you could also end up paying a fine of Dh400 for crossing the road in non-designated areas. Use pedestrian crossings or footbridges and pay attention to traffic lights.
Photography
Taking or publishing pictures of people without their explicit permission is illegal in the UAE.
It is considered a breach of privacy and you could be in hot water if the person in the photograph files a complaint. Also, anything you post online stays online — so post carefully. Fines for this cybercrime could range from Dh150,000 to Dh200,000 along with jail time.
Texting in foul language
From crude language to certain emoticons that signify swear words, if a recipient of ■ your message decides to take your texts to the police, you will be liable to pay fines. In worst case scenarios, it could even lead to jail or deportation.
Littering
It’s easy to chuck a toffee wrapper or cigarette butt, but in the UAE you could be fined for littering.
Hand gestures
In pop-culture across the globe, hand gestures are commonplace, but it is not so in the UAE. If someone finds your hand gesture offensive, you could be in trouble with the police. Be sensitive to the cultural viewpoints of the UAE and the region.
Washing your car
Washing your car in public paid or free parking spaces, or in front of buildings, is illegal in the UAE. While it extends to the aesthetics of communities, the larger purpose is water conservation and sustainable living.
A bounced cheque
You may have forgotten to inform someone about insufficient funds, but the minute a cheque bounces, it becomes a criminal offence. Keep track of all the cheques you write.
Raising money for charity
You are not allowed to – as an individual or a group – raise money online (or offline) for any cause or charity. You should only go through registered volunteer and charity organisations in the UAE and leave the fundraising aspect to them.
Sharing a secret
Privacy, defamation and confidentiality are taken very seriously in the UAE. You are not allowed to publish information, make defamatory statements, or level accusations that could raise public hatred or contempt against an individual or enterprise.
■ Disclaimer: This is just a guideline. Please refer to government websites to double-check on all fines before payments. Gulf News is not responsible for any misinterpretation of UAE laws.