The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an elective monarchy in Western Asia, situated on the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula and bordering Saudi Arabia, Iran, Oman, and Qatar. The Emirates are a federation consisting of seven independent city-states, the best known of which is Dubai. The others include Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Fujairah.
Collectively, the seven emirates have a population of around 10 million, most of whom are Sunni Muslims, while the rest adhere to the Shia branch of Islam. The federation has the 35th-largest economy in the world and the fifth-largest in the Middle East, with a nominal gross domestic product of US$421 billion in 2020, according to the World Bank. Petroleum exports are the largest contributor to the local economy, which is unsurprising considering that the emirate of Abu Dhabi contains one of the largest oil-reserve concentrations on the planet.
This opulent country evokes many associations, but gambling is not one of them. Islam is the official religion under Article 7 of the UAE Constitution, and religious Sharia law serves as the foundation of the country’s secular and federal legislation. The Islamic religion strictly prohibits gambling, denouncing it as a grave sin. The Emirates have some of the strictest gambling laws in the world, prohibiting all such activities in both land-based and online formats.
Laws That Govern Gambling in the UAE
Several local laws establish a blanket prohibition on gambling. Some address it directly, while others do so indirectly. The ban extends to online gambling as well, and the UAE is one of the few jurisdictions that actively prosecute people for betting on the internet. Anyone who engages in such activities risks arrest, whether they are a UAE citizen, a tourist, or a temporary worker.
Penal Code of the UAE
Civil Code of the UAE
Penal Code of the UAE
The main piece of legislation that prohibits gambling in the United Arab Emirates is the Penal Code, which incorporates elements of Islamic Sharia law. The Code addresses gambling in Chapter VI. Article 413 provides a legal definition of gambling games, describing them as games in which each participant agrees that, if they lose, they will pay money or something else of value to the winner.
Article 414 lists the penalties for those who ignore the prohibition and gamble. Offenders face fines or imprisonment for up to two years. The ceiling on the imposed fines is AED50,000. These penalties apply when the offense occurs in a public place or an illegal gambling house.
Participating in gambling, operating gambling venues, and organizing gambling games are all illegal under the Penal Code. Organizers of illicit gambling can receive prison sentences of up to ten years and fines of at least AED100,000.
Regardless of the circumstances, all money and gaming equipment used in illegal operations are subject to confiscation. Authorities will close the premises where the activities took place and will not permit reopening without approval from the Public Prosecution.
The federation does not have any brick-and-mortar casinos, even in major tourist destinations such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Poker, bingo, and sports wagering are likewise subject to the blanket ban, and importing gambling equipment or machines is also illegal.
Civil Code of the UAE
Despite the general ban on gambling, the federation’s Civil Code contains provisions that allow prize competitions under certain conditions. These requirements are detailed in Title IV, Chapter I of the Code.
Article 1012 defines a competition contract as one that binds an individual to pay an amount of money or something else of value to the person who accomplishes the objective set out in the contract. Such a contract is valid only if two conditions are met.
First, both the prize and the payer must be clearly specified, and the agreement must include precise information about the activity covered by the contract. For example, it could state the exact length of a race track or the number of shots allowed in a shooting contest.
The losing party may pay the prize in specified property or debt, either in full immediately or with part deferred. Races with prizes are automatically considered binding, and the parties may dissolve the contract only by mutual consent.
In animal-related contests, a participant is not defeated if someone forcibly removes his whip and the animal slows down. However, the rider loses if he forgets the whip at the start or drops it during the race. Prizes resulting from such competition contracts can be awarded only to the winner, not to third parties.
Finally, Article 1021 states that all contracts involving gambling or other prohibited contests are automatically invalid. A person who loses a wager on a prohibited contest may recover the loss within six months from the date of payment, provided they can produce adequate proof, regardless of any prior agreement to the contrary.
Online Gambling Prohibition in the UAE
The blanket prohibition in the UAE also applies to gambling activities conducted over the internet. In 2012, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa issued Federal Law № 5 of 2012 on Combating Cybercrime. Article 17 states that anyone who launches, operates, or manages a website for gambling is liable for a fine ranging from AED250,000 (about $68,000) to AED500,000 (about $136,000). The same penalty applies to anyone who produces, displays, or sends gambling-related materials over a computer network.
Playing at Offshore Gambling Sites from the UAE Is Inadvisable
Active Prosecution for Online Gambling
Remote Telephone Betting
Rumors of Introducing Legal Gambling
Playing at Offshore Gambling Sites from the UAE Is Inadvisable
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some online gambling websites still accept wagers from UAE residents despite the ban. These sites remain accessible to locals in spite of governmental efforts to block them. Nevertheless, it is inadvisable to play on such platforms unless you are prepared to risk two years in jail or a AED50,000 fine under Article 414 of the Penal Code.
Active Prosecution for Online Gambling
It is important to understand that the UAE differs from most other countries in this regard. In many jurisdictions remote gambling is illegal, yet authorities rarely prosecute gamblers who use offshore websites. The federation, however, is one of the few countries that actively bring legal proceedings against online gamblers.
Thoroughbred horse racing is hugely popular in the UAE, and the Dubai World Cup is especially well known. Held each March at Meydan Racecourse, it boasts a prize purse of $12 million and attracts more than 50,000 spectators.
Remote Telephone Betting
Although betting on horse races is illegal in the UAE, many foreign bookmakers offer odds on the Dubai World Cup from abroad. Expatriates and tourists sometimes exploit this by placing remote wagers, often by calling foreign betting operators. We advise Emiratis to avoid telephone bets because, in practice, they breach local law. Foreigners who gamble in the country can also face jail time or deportation under Article 121 of the Penal Code.
Rumors of Introducing Legal Gambling
In March 2021, social media rumors claimed that the Dubai government was considering legalizing and licensing gambling businesses. The emirate’s authorities promptly disproved the rumors in an official statement, calling the claims “incorrect” and providing no further details.
Raffles in the UAE
The closest thing to gambling that people can enjoy in the UAE is the Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire raffle. Participants can purchase raffle tickets at the duty-free shops in Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports without fear of legal prosecution. It was launched in the summer of 1999, and 5,000 tickets are available for sale per draw. Both locals and international visitors can participate by buying tickets.
The Millennium Millionaire draws are held roughly once every two or three weeks. The raffle has turned many people into millionaires since its launch more than twenty years ago. Perhaps more amazing is the fact that seven raffle participants managed to win the $1 million prize not once, but twice. Two other raffles are also available, but the prizes are non-monetary.
Participants in the Finest Surprise raffles have the opportunity to win motorbikes or luxury cars. People can also purchase tickets online via the official Dubai Duty-Free website. Tickets for the Millennium Millionaire draw cost roughly $270, while those for the car and bike raffles are priced at $139 and $28, respectively.
Conclusion
Aside from the airport raffles mentioned earlier, the UAE has no form of legal gambling. A similar raffle is in place in Qatar, where it is also organized by the duty-free division of Hamad International Airport. UAE authorities do not take illegal gambling participation or organization lightly, imposing heavy fines and prison sentences as penalties. In April 2021, Dubai denied rumors of gambling legalization, and it appears the federation has no plans to change its stance in the foreseeable future.
