A claim that the penalty for stealing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is slavery has been circulated online.
An X user, @BluebriarArts, made the post with a caption that read:
“They don’t like to tell you that if you get caught stealing something with even 1% of the value of that in Dubai, you will literally be enslaved for the rest of your entire life, and if you’re a woman you’ll get sold off to a polygamist millionare and your kids will be slaves too.”
The post was in response to a video content shared by another X user, @idanpapii, showing a woman who left a piece of jewelry at various places allegedly to depict Dubai as a safe place.
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The video has garnered over 11 million views while the comment has generated over 13,000 reposts alongside more than 260,000 likes and over 16,000 bookmarks as of April 10, 2025.
CLAIM
The penalty for stealing in Dubai is slavery.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
The United Arab Emirates’ punishment for theft is governed by a combination of Sharia law and the UAE Penal Code. The UAE has clear and firm punishments for anyone found guilty of theft. This approach is not just about deterrence but also about maintaining the country’s security and trust.
Theft is considered a serious crime in the UAE, typically regulated under Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (UAE Penal Code). According to Federal Law No. 3 of 1987, theft is legally defined in the country as the act of unlawfully taking possession of another person’s property with the intent to deprive them permanently of it.
This can include tangible assets like money, jewelry, or electronics, as well as intangible assets like intellectual property. This includes movable properties with tangible value, and the key elements to establish this offense are the “mens rea” (intention) and “actus reus” (action) of the perpetrator.
The FactCheckHub reviewed the country’s law published by various law firms and experts, and we cannot find anywhere slavery is listed as a penalty for stealing.
According to an explainer by lawyers in Dubai, perpetrators of theft, if found guilty of theft in Dubai, will face imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 3 years, along with potential fines.
In addition, attempted theft carries legal consequences, with imprisonment durations ranging from 3 months to 18 months or monetary penalties.
Meanwhile, perpetrators of aggravated theft which involves aggravating factors such as the use of weapons, theft committed at night, theft by multiple individuals, or theft involving coercion could face harsher penalties, including potential life imprisonment.
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In the UAE, theft is categorized into various types, each carrying specific legal consequences based on the severity and circumstances. Petty theft involving low-value items under AED 1,000 can result in fines up to AED 5,000, short-term imprisonment up to six months, and possible deportation for non-citizens.
Theft by a servant is treated more seriously due to the breach of trust involved, leading to penalties of up to AED 10,000 in fines, imprisonment of up to five years, and potential deportation. Aggravated theft, which includes factors like violence or group involvement, attracts harsher punishments of up to ten years in prison and fines reaching AED 50,000.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the penalty for stealing in Dubai is slavery is FALSE. Theft is punished under UAE law with fines, imprisonment, or deportation—not slavery. There is no legal basis for the claim, and slavery is illegal in the UAE.
Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
