The UAE has, in latest weeks, issued a spread of latest Federal Decree-Legal guidelines introducing important reforms throughout taxation, enterprise regulation, justice, public well being, youngster welfare, commerce and social safety.
The legislative updates replicate the nation’s ongoing efforts to modernise its authorized framework, strengthen governance, improve public security and align regulatory methods with worldwide requirements.
From up to date narcotics and sexual offences legal guidelines to modifications to VAT and organ donation guidelines, discover out extra concerning the new legal guidelines within the UAE.
UAE updates narcotics regulation with more durable penalties and expanded rehabilitation
The UAE issued amendments to the Federal Decree-Regulation on Combating Narcotic Medicine and Psychotropic Substances, strengthening enforcement, increasing remedy capability and updating regulatory oversight.
Key modifications designate the Emirates Drug Institution because the competent authority for regulating medical merchandise and change references to the Ministry of Inside with the Nationwide Anti-Narcotics Authority.
The regulation expands rehabilitation capability by permitting federal and personal well being services to ascertain specialised remedy items, topic to Cupboard-issued laws.
Penalties are elevated for pharmacies and physicians allotting or prescribing narcotic medication with out legitimate authorisation, with imprisonment of not lower than 5 years and fines of not lower than AED50,000 ($13,612).
International nationals convicted of narcotics offences have to be deported after finishing their sentence, topic to outlined family-related exceptions.
UAE amends youngster safety regulation to develop custody choices
The UAE issued Federal Decree-Regulation No. (12) of 2025, amending provisions associated to kids of unknown parentage.
The regulation reaffirms one of the best pursuits of the kid because the tenet and permits custody to be granted to eligible households residing within the UAE, topic to joint purposes, age necessities and government laws.
Custody can also be granted to an eligible lady residing within the UAE who has accomplished 30 years of age and is financially able to supporting the kid.
The amendments set up monitoring mechanisms, corrective plans and safeguards, together with the removing of a kid from custody the place circumstances are breached.
UAE strengthens penalties for sexual offences involving minors and prostitution
Amendments to the Crimes and Penalties Regulation strengthen protections for minors and develop judicial precautionary powers.
Courts could topic convicted offenders to medical, psychological and social evaluations and impose post-sentence precautionary measures the place felony threat persists.
Any individual aged 18 or above partaking in sexual exercise with an individual below 18 faces imprisonment of not lower than ten years and a positive of not lower than AED100,000 ($27,225), even the place consent is alleged.
Consent shouldn’t be recognised except the sufferer has accomplished 16 years of age.
Penalties are additionally elevated for incitement or solicitation to prostitution, with harsher penalties the place minors are concerned.
UAE introduces inheritance courts below civil justice overhaul
The UAE issued amendments to the Civil Procedures Code, introducing inheritance courts and strengthening judicial effectivity.
Inheritance courts could now be established straight by choice of the President of the Federal Judiciary Council or the top of the native judicial authority.
The regulation expands attraction rights, strengthens knowledgeable proof procedures, raises admissibility requirements for appeals, and extends the correct of attraction earlier than the Courtroom of Cassation to incorporate selections issued by Courts of Attraction.
The Lawyer-Normal is empowered to file appeals independently, even the place events haven’t exercised attraction rights.
UAE amends organ transplant regulation to manage non-human organs
Amendments to the Federal Decree-Regulation on organ transplantation develop the regulation to incorporate non-human organs and tissues, together with animal and manufactured organs.
Transplants could proceed solely below strict medical circumstances, licensing necessities and committee approval.
Violations could end in imprisonment and fines starting from not lower than AED100,000 ($27,225) to no more than AED2m ($544,500).
A nationwide database will file all non-human organ transplants, and the UAE Cupboard is authorised to manage transfers domestically and internationally.
UAE introduces tiered sugar tax from January 1, 2026
The Ministry of Finance issued Cupboard Determination No. 197 of 2025, introducing a tiered volumetric tax on sweetened drinks efficient January 1, 2026.
Drinks containing:
- 5–8 grams of sugar per 100ml shall be taxed at AED0.79 per litre
- 8 grams or extra per 100ml shall be taxed at AED1.09 per litre
Drinks with lower than 5 grams of sugar per 100ml, or containing solely synthetic sweeteners, are exempt.
UAE introduces new veterinary regulation to strengthen meals security
A brand new Federal Decree-Regulation regulates veterinary medical merchandise and institutions, making a unified governance framework aligned with worldwide requirements.
The regulation covers improvement, manufacturing, licensing, import, export, prescribing, and disposal of veterinary medical merchandise.
It prohibits counterfeit and expired merchandise, regulates restricted substances, and introduces a fast-track approval course of for revolutionary veterinary remedies.
Entities have as much as one 12 months from enactment to rectify their standing, topic to Cupboard extension.
UAE reforms Emirates Union of Chambers of Commerce and Business
The UAE amended Federal Regulation No. (22) of 2000, renaming the physique the Emirates Union of Chambers of Commerce and Business.
The Normal Meeting is abolished, and the Board of Administrators turns into the supreme authority, with expanded strategic and operational powers.
The Chairman’s obligations are formally outlined, strengthening governance and institutional effectivity.
UAE introduces main modifications to Industrial Firms Regulation
Amendments to the Industrial Firms Regulation introduce multi-class shares, private-market fundraising and streamlined enterprise relocation throughout emirates and free zones.
The regulation introduces non-profit corporations, permits differentiated share rights, permits non-public joint-stock corporations to lift capital by way of non-public subscriptions, and formalises tag-along and drag-along rights.
Stricter valuation requirements are launched for non-cash capital contributions.
UAE pronounces new VAT guidelines efficient January 1, 2026
The Ministry of Finance issued Federal Decree-Regulation No. (16) of 2025, amending the VAT regulation efficient January 1, 2026.
Key modifications:
- Removing of the self-invoicing requirement below the reverse cost mechanism
- Introduction of a five-year restrict to reclaim extra refundable VAT
- Authority for the Federal Tax Authority to disclaim enter tax deductions linked to tax evasion preparations
The amendments goal to strengthen compliance, transparency and administrative effectivity.
