Introduction
Ignorance of law is a common phenomenon that governments all over the world deal with everyday. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is no exception as people who live and visit the country commit various acts that violate their law. The nature of crime in the UAE is different when compared to crimes in industrialized countries (International Monetary Fund, 2008). According to the United States Department of State, the rate of crime in the UAE is relatively low. Studies have established that the crime index in the UAE averages at 20.75. This means that the safety index in the country averages at 79.25. Such a low crime index ranks at the lowest end of the global crime spectrum.
Despite the high security index in the UAE, people are still vulnerable to various crimes in small degrees. Research has shown that most people living in Dubai believe that crime has substantially increased in the past three years. According to the UAE government, foreigners account for a big percentage of crimes committed in the country (Trenwith, 2013). In 2013, the government released a list of top crimes committed by foreigners who visit as either residents or tourists. The irony of this phenomenon is that most embassies in the UAE advise their citizens to take normal security precautions while in the country, yet they are among the biggest offenders. This research paper will establish the nature of crime in the UAE by discussing acts that are punishable by law.
Discussion
The UAE deals with crimes of both small and large magnitude. Crimes committed in the country are not unique in any way because they also happen in other countries across the world. Small magnitude crimes are common in the country compared to large magnitude crimes. Studies show that most people in the UAE fear crimes such as pick pocketing, home breakage, racism, insults, armed robbery, vandalism, sexual harassment, and physical attacks among others. Research has also shown that criminals rarely use weapons (International Monetary Fund, 2008). Many crimes in the country happen in densely populated areas commonly occupied by low-income earners. Cases of homicide are common in areas occupied by Asian and South Asian expatriates. Security reports have established that workplaces are regular scenes of crime in the UAE.
People show a lot of concern for their safety on the roads. However, crimes on roads are not common because the government has invested on surveillance systems. In addition, police officers conduct regular patrols. Patrols are mainly used to monitor over speeding, mercurial behaviors among drivers, and inappropriate behaviors like talking on the phone while driving (Trenwith, 2013). Fines for crimes committed on the roads in the country are usually high in order to caution drivers from intentionally ignoring the law. One of the heavily fined road crimes in the UAE is driving under the influence of alcohol. It can attract punishments such as jail terms, fines, deportation, and arrest (International Monetary Fund, 2008).
Crimes in the UAE tag along political, economic, religious, social, and ethnic lines. Some of the serious crimes in the country are terrorism, drug trafficking, murder, human trafficking, prostitution, and cybercrime among others. Terrorism has been a security concern in the UAE and other parts of the world for a long time (Trenwith, 2013). Terror attacks in the UAE have risen due to the increasing number of American citizens who are top targets for terrorist attacks. Other factors that have contributed to the high terrorism threat in the country are the Arabian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula, which have attracted western nations. People travelling to the UAE are always advised by their embassies to take every precautionary measure against the threat of terrorism in the country.
Studies have established that over the last five years, cases of cybercrime have been on the rise in the UAE. For example, in the year 2002, the government announced that cases of computer hacking had risen by 300% within the first half of the year (International Monetary Fund, 2008). International experts on cybercrime rank the UAE among the top ten most vulnerable countries with regard to hacking. This crime has resulted to growth of other petty crimes such as corruption, fraud, and swindling. Money laundering crimes are very high in the country because of its economic position within the region. The UAE is among the top economic pillars in the region and this makes it highly vulnerable to money launders. The government has tried to stop this crime by enacting a number of laws that aim to regulate the banking sector (Trenwith, 2013).
Drug related crimes are also common in the UAE despite the launch of a national drug strategy a few years ago. This strategy helps to implement the government’s zero tolerance policy on illegal drug trafficking and use. According to the policy, anyone caught in possession of any illegal drug in the country faces a jail term of not less than four years (International Monetary Fund, 2008). The policy also requires all security agencies to beef up security along all the country’s borders, seaports, airports, coastline, and land routes. The government has invested numerous resources in running educational campaigns and rehabilitation programs across the country with an aim to reduce demand for drugs among citizens (International Monetary Fund, 2008). The UAE has been used as an avenue for trafficking drugs because it is strategically located near countries that produce drugs on large scale.
Human related crimes have been on the rise in the UAE. The most vulnerable groups of people to human trafficking are women and children (International Monetary Fund, 2008). Children, especially small boys are trafficked to the UAE to work as jockeys. Despite numerous efforts by the government to eradicate this crime, studies show that there has been a slight increase in number of reported cases over the last couple of years. Another human related crime in the UAE is prostitution. According to government reports, women from various European and African countries migrate to the country as sexual slaves (Trenwith, 2013).
These women are trafficked into the country by cartels that also own them. They cannot leave the country because they do not possess official travel documents. Some of the factors that have contributed to growth of prostitution in the UAE include porous borders, moral decadence, and close proximity to countries engulfed in war (International Monetary Fund, 2008).
Foreigners and crime in the UAE
Crime in the UAE has also been closely associated with the large number of foreigners who either live in the country or visit on a regular basis. According to government reports, most foreigners who commit petty crimes in the country are ignorant of the law (Trenwith, 2013). However, the government believes that there is no good reason for foreigners to violate laws applied in the country because they are easily accessible on the internet. It is important for tourists to seek information about their destination in order to avoid any inconveniences. Important information tourists need to know when travelling to a foreign destination includes weather, laws, and customs among others. Some of the common crimes committed by foreigners in the UAE include driving under the influence of alcohol, indecent exposure, sunbathing, public show of affection, and photographing strangers among others (International Monetary Fund, 2008).
Conclusion
According to the United States Department of State, the rate of crime in the UAE is relatively low. The UAE government has invested numerous resources into the fight against various forms of crime in the country. The biggest crime in the UAE is terrorism, which also poses a major security threat to other countries across the world. Foreigners living and visiting the UAE are among the biggest offenders. Although the government argues that foreigners are ignorant of UAE laws, it emphasizes the importance of foreigners familiarizing themselves with its laws. People are advised to take precautionary measures in order to avoid victimization. Although the government is currently doing its best to improve the safety index in the country, it is the responsibility of everyone to look out for themselves and others as well. In general, the UAE is a much safer country because of the nature of crimes reported and the efforts made by security agencies to promote the safety of civilians.
References
International Monetary Fund. (2008). United Arab Emirates: Detailed Assessment Report on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism. New York: International Monetary Fund. Web.
Trenwith, C. (2013). Revealed: Top Crimes Committed by UAE Visitors. Web.