I’ve been fortunate to call Dubai home for more than 15 years, and last night, local authorities announced that they are relaxing Islamic laws and implementing the following changes:

➡️ If married couples choose to get divorced, the rules of their local country will apply, not the UAE’s.

➡️ Unmarried couples can now live together legally.

➡️ Should someone pass away; their citizenship dictates how their assets are divided - unless they have a will. If, however, they have local property, this will still be managed under UAE law.

➡️ Suicide and attempted suicide will now be decriminalized.

➡️ If you choose to intervene when someone is in need (i.e. they may be suffocating and needing CPR), you cannot be held liable anymore.

➡️ Men who harass woman will face tougher punishment.

➡️ Alcohol consumption is no longer a criminal offence (provided you’re over 21!)

➡️ If you are going to court and do not speak or understand Arabic, the court must provide you with a translator.

Over the last few months, the UAE has taken great strides in making local residency more appealing by introducing a remote working visa and retirement visa.

This will make the UAE a more attractive place to live and will allow the local economy to thrive for years to come.