If you or someone in your home is in immediate danger, call the police on 999. Domestic violence in the UAE is a crime under Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2024 on Protection Against Domestic Violence, which has applied since 16 September 2024. You can report abuse to the police, to the Ministry or a local social services authority, or to a police social support centre. The Public Prosecution can issue a protection order, for example banning the abuser from contacting you or coming near your home, at your request.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for anyone harmed, threatened or controlled by a family member in the UAE, and for people worried about someone. It explains where to report, what a protection order can do and how to keep evidence. Divorce is covered in non-Muslim divorce and Muslim expat divorce, and general police reports in how to file a police complaint.
First, get safe
- Call 999 if anyone is hurt or at risk right now.
- Go somewhere safe, such as a friend's or relative's home or a public place, if you can do so safely.
- Get medical help. Treat injuries first. A medical report also matters later.
- Keep essentials together. Your phone, passport, Emirates ID, your children's documents and some money, if it is safe to do so.
You do not have to stay at home while a case is dealt with. The law lets the authorities place a victim in a shelter or with a relative when needed (Article 6).
What counts as domestic violence?
Under Article 4, domestic violence is any act, omission, statement or threat, neglect, or sexual or economic exploitation by a family member that goes beyond their authority or responsibility and causes, or aims to cause, physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm. "Family" is wide (Article 3): spouses and children, a parent's other spouse, stepchildren, relatives by blood or marriage up to the fourth degree, and people linked by guardianship or custody. So controlling money, threats and serious neglect can count, not only physical violence.
Where can you report?
Under Article 5, you can report to the Ministry, the local authority for community affairs or a social support centre. Physical or sexual violence is reported to a police station. The law names the Ministry of Community Development, now called the Ministry of Community Empowerment. Its official list of reporting channels includes the following, as of October 2026:
| Where | Service | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Anywhere in the UAE | Police emergency | 999 |
| Federal | Ministry of Community Empowerment | 800623 |
| Federal | Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre | 116111 |
| Dubai | Dubai Police Child and Women Protection Department | 04 274 4666 |
| Dubai | Dubai Foundation for Women and Children | 800111 (toll free, per its website) |
| Dubai | Community Development Authority | 800988 |
| Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Police social support | 02 657 3699 |
| Sharjah | Social Services Department, Child and Family Protection Centre | 800700 |
| Ajman | Protection Foundation for Women and Children | 050 897 3223 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Ministry of Interior Social Support Centre | 07 205 5155 |
| Umm Al Quwain | Ministry of Interior Social Support Centre | 056 996 2299 |
| Fujairah | Ministry of Interior Social Support Centre | 056 501 6970 |
Numbers can change, so check the Ministry's list if a number does not connect. The identity of a person who reports may not be disclosed unless the judicial process requires it (Article 5).
What happens after you report?
Under Article 6, the authority that receives the report records it and takes steps to protect you, including a shelter place if needed. It hears the parties and witnesses, including children, in private, and can refer you to a health facility, which prepares a medical report. It then reports to the Public Prosecution, recommending either a criminal case or time for reconciliation.
Reconciliation is optional. Family reconciliation may be offered within 14 days, but only if both sides agree, and never where the act is a felony (Article 13). Forcing a victim to withdraw a report is a separate crime, with imprisonment and a fine of AED 10,000 to AED 50,000, or either (Article 25).
Emergency shelter. If the abuser is caught in the act, an order is breached or shelter is urgent, you can be referred to a shelter at once, and the Public Prosecution decides within 24 hours whether that continues (Article 17).
How do protection orders work?
The Arabic text calls it a protection order; the official English translation says restraining order.
Who issues it. The Public Prosecution can issue one on its own initiative or at the request of the victim, the social support centre, the Ministry or the local authority (Article 8). A criminal court can also issue one while hearing any criminal case, on its own or at the victim's request (Article 10).
How long it lasts.
| Issued by | First period | Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecution | Up to 30 days (Article 9) | Two further periods of the same length, then the court can extend up to 6 months or until the judgment is final |
| Criminal court | Up to 6 months or until the judgment is final (Article 10) | Up to 12 more months after the final judgment, at the request of the Public Prosecution or the victim |
A request to the court for a protection order is free of court fees (Article 10). Anyone affected can challenge an order before the court within 7 days of learning of it (Article 12).
What it can include (Article 11). The order can ban any contact with you. It can ban the abuser from going near your home, your workplace or other named places, within a set distance and time. It can move you, with your consent, to a shelter, a relative's home or another safe place. It can make the abuser pay you necessary financial support and your medical costs, protect your property and belongings, and require the abuser to attend counselling.
Breaking the order. A breach is punishable by imprisonment and a fine of AED 5,000 to AED 10,000, or either. If the breach involves violence or coercion, it is at least 6 months' imprisonment and a fine of AED 10,000 to AED 100,000, or either (Article 23). The Ministry or local authority follows up the order and must report any breach at once (Article 11).
The offence itself. Domestic violence is punishable by imprisonment and a fine of up to AED 50,000, or either. It is aggravated where the victim is a parent, a person over 60, a pregnant woman, a child or a person with a disability, or where it is repeated within a year (Article 21).
Evidence and medical reports
Ask the hospital or clinic for a medical report describing your injuries and the date; under Article 6, a health facility that receives a referral must prepare one. Also keep:
- Photos of injuries and damage, with dates
- Messages, emails, voicemails and call logs, saved in more than one safe place
- Names of witnesses, such as neighbours, relatives or teachers
- A short dated log of each incident
Do not post accusations online; see online defamation and cybercrime for why.
Step by step
- Get safe and call 999 if in danger. Your safety comes before paperwork.
- Get medical care and a medical report. Keep a copy.
- Report it. Use the police or a channel in the table above.
- Ask for a protection order. Tell the police or the Public Prosecution what protection you need.
- Ask about shelter. If home is not safe, ask for a shelter or another safe place.
- Keep your reference numbers. Note the report, case and order numbers.
- Keep evidence safe. Store copies away from shared devices.
- Think about the children. Abuse is a ground for a court to remove a parent from joint custody; see money and children after a non-Muslim divorce.
Documents checklist
- Passport and Emirates ID, yours and your children's
- Medical reports and prescriptions
- Photos, messages and call logs
- Police report or case reference number
- Any protection order and its notification
- Marriage certificate and children's birth certificates
- A dated incident log
Common mistakes
- Waiting for an injury to get worse. Seek treatment and a medical report early.
- Deleting messages. They may be important evidence.
- Agreeing to reconciliation under pressure. It is voluntary, and pressure to withdraw is a crime.
- Keeping evidence on a shared phone. Store copies somewhere private.
When to speak to a licensed lawyer
A lawyer can help you ask for or extend a protection order, follow the criminal case and deal with divorce, custody, housing and money. Advice is also sensible if your visa depends on the abuser, or if an order has been made against you. The free case check can help you set out the facts first, and CaseDaleel can introduce an independent licensed professional only if you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What number do I call for domestic violence in the UAE?
Call 999 in an emergency; for other reports, use the Ministry of Community Empowerment (800623) or the local channels it lists.
Can I get a protection order without going to court?
Yes, the Public Prosecution can issue one at your request for up to 30 days, extendable twice before the court must extend it.
How long does a protection order last?
Up to 30 days from the Public Prosecution with two extensions, then up to 6 months by the court, and up to 12 more months after a final judgment.
What happens if the abuser breaks the order?
It is a crime punishable by imprisonment and a fine of AED 5,000 to AED 10,000, or more if violence is used.
Is financial control domestic violence?
Yes, the law includes economic exploitation and economic harm.
Do I have to reconcile with my spouse?
No, family reconciliation is offered only if both sides agree and not where the act is a felony.
Can a friend or teacher report abuse?
Yes, and the law requires anyone who knows of domestic violence to report it, while protecting the reporter's identity.
Official sources
- UAE Legislation — Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2024 on Protection Against Domestic Violence
- Ministry of Community Empowerment — Channels for reporting family violence
- UAE Government portal — Family protection policy
- Dubai Foundation for Women and Children — Home
General information, not legal advice. CaseDaleel is not a law firm.