Up to 50,000 fine, jail for destroying public, historical, national and private documents in UAE

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE Public Prosecution (PP), on Monday, clarified through a video published on its social media accounts about penalty for destruction by neglect of public, historical, national and private documents stated in Federal Law No. 7 of 2008 concerning the National Library and Archives.

The UAE PP explained that pursuant to Article 24, whoever causes the destruction of a document by means of neglect, shall be sentenced to detention for a minimum term of two months and a maximum term of one year, and a fine of no less than Dhs3,000 and no more than Dhs10,000, or either of these two penalties.

The prosecution also said that in the event of the document subject to destruction by neglect is confidential, the penalty shall be detention for a minimum term of six months and a maximum term of one year and a fine of no less than Dhs20,000 and no more than Dhs50,000 or either of these penalties.

The infliction of the penalties provided for in this law, shall be without prejudice to any severer penalty provided for in another law, the prosecution added. This comes as part of the UAE Public Prosecution’s continuous efforts to promote the legal awareness among members of the community and to enhance their knowledge about the latest legislation in the country.