LGBTQ rights in the United Arab Emirates

Common card · No. 237990

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in the United Arab Emirates face discrimination and legal challenges. Homosexuality is illegal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Under Article 409 of the Federal Crimes and Penalties Law (2021), consensual same-sex sexual conduct and extra-marital heterosexual intercourse are criminalised with a minimum sentence of six months' imprisonment. Prosecution can only be initiated upon a complaint filed by a spouse or guardian; without such a complaint, no criminal action may proceed. There have been no known arrests or prosecutions for same-sex sexual activity in the UAE since at least 2015 (as of 2026). Individuals have been prosecuted for offences related to sexual and gender identity under public decency laws, for acts such as kissing in public, or for cross-dressing.

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