What Might Changes to the UAE Penal Code Mean for Arbitrators and Expert Witnesses?

There is no doubt that the UAE has been steadily establishing itself as a global arbitration centre by developing the Dubai International Arbitration Centre ("DIAC") , Dubai International Financial Centre–London Court of International Arbitration ("DIFC–LCIA") and the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre amongst others. As we set out in this 21st issue of IQ, there have been a number of recent developments which have served at least to raise questions about how that development might continue.

At the end of October last year Article 257 of the UAE Federal Penal Code No. 3 of 1987 was amended by Federal Decree Law No. 7 of 2016. The UAE Federal Penal Code applies in the DIFC and ADGM just as it does elsewhere throughout the UAE. The amended article reads as follows: