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 With the UAE seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases, authorities have urged people to follow social distancing, personal health, and safety measures strictly. The authorities have warned that non-compliance with the guidelines will invite huge fines.

The list of fines, issued by the UAE Attorney General as per the 38th and 58th amendment of 202 including the following:

Mandatory Hospitalization Refusal by Infected Personnel

If a person does not cooperate with the authorities with regards to undergoing monitoring or and prescribed treatment the designated officer may refer the case to the authorized authority to enforce the decision.

Failure to comply with quarantine instructions along with failure to appear or refusal to re-examination, or absent from implementing the instruction can invite a fine of Dh 50,000.

Repeated Offenders

Repeated Offenders of home quarantine (under the electronic tracking system) by abstaining from installing and registering the COVID 19 tracker app, carrying the smart device for tracking cases of home quarantine, losing, disrupting, or destroying the communication network. These repeated offenses will invite a fine of Dh 10,000.

Tampering with Device

Hacking the application or the electronic device, destroying, deleting, damaging programs, websites, and systems will call for a Dh 20,000 fine. Illegally obtaining data or information, or initiating any of these actions will result in a Dh 20,000 fine. Not informing the relevant officers about the possible defects in the electronic device that might affect the continuity of data and information extraction process will result in Dh 10,000 fine. Any such issues need to be informed to the appropriate authority within 24 hours of the happening of the issue.

2. Commercial Entity:Non-compliance of Operating Hours and Suspension of Tours and Cruises

Non-compliance of Operating Hours and Suspension of Tours and Cruises Violations by institutions on the instructions with regards to the opening and closing hours of educational institutions, commercial stores, shopping malls, sports facilities, hotels, swimming pools, pubs, and so on can result in a fine of Dh 50,000. The fine will be paid to the person in charge of the violating entity. It will also be grounds for an administrative closure for one month. Receiving visitors or tourists in the above-mentioned entities, if it violates the instructions of the respective authorities in the respective emirate will invite similar fines. In event of no-commitment to install necessary precautions like thermal heat scanners and so on, the above-mentioned institutions can attract Dh 20,000 fines. It is the duty of the institutions to adhere to the rules and regulations set by the appropriate authorities in each Emirates.

3. Social Gathering Restrictions

In the case of an imposed restriction on public or private gatherings in an Emirate, the organizer of the event will be charged Dh 10,000 and the participants will be charged Dh 5,000 each.

4. Violating Preventive Measures

Violating preventive measures related to arrivals in UAE can set you back by Dh 5000 fine. The Ministry of Health and Prevention has announced certain measures to be followed for the people arriving in UAE, this is especially important for arrivals from countries worst affected by the pandemic. Abstaining from taking appropriate preventive actions in markets that are not closed can invite a fine of Dh 5000 for the owner of the store. In the case of refraining from removing any temporary clothes, construction, luggage, and other items, that may be contagious or contaminated by a pathogen but can be disinfected will invite Dh 3,000 fine. If an accredited health laboratory fails to report a test examination to the relevant authority as per the authority standards, the person in charge of the laboratory will be fined Dh 20,000. For violations with regards to cleaning and sterilizing devices, equipment, and machinery (that come in direct contact with food) within the business entity can result in a fine of Dh 5,000. The person in charge of the facility is entitled to pay the fine.

5. Violation of Procedure Related to Health and Personal Hygiene of Workers 

If an entity violates the health and personal hygiene procedure issued by the respective authority of the concerned UAE Emirates the entity is bound by a Dh 1000 fine. The violations with regards to the use of banned chemicals ( for disinfection, pesticides, sterilizing, and or cleaners) will lead to Dh 1,000 fine. If the preventive instruction issued by the concerned emirate authority is violated, the violation calls for a Dh 1,000 fine. This is in regard to the displaying, transporting, or storing pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, food, or other materials. Violation of any instruction or decisions issued for the preservation of the health, safety, and prevention of communicable diseases could fetch a fine of Dh 2,000. In case of violating executive regulations of the Communicable Diseases Law with regards to the transfer and or burial of a person who has contracted communicable diseases will amount to a fine of Dh 5,000.

6. Traveling in Car

Three is the maximum number of passengers allowed in a car except in the case of family members. If the order is violated the driver of the car pays a fine of Dh 3,000. In the case of vehicles that transport goods, objects, or other items that perform such a task in violation of the orders passed by the regulatory authority will invite a fine of Dh 5,000.

Wearing a Face Mask, Social Distancing

Not wearing a medical or fabric mask, or veil in public (indoor public place, shopping mall, and in public transport) can attract a fine of Dh 3,000. Walking or jogging in crowded outdoor places can invite a fine of Dh 3,000. If the person fails to maintain appropriate distance from others in public spaces and neglected social distancing he/she will be fined Dh 3,000. In the case of shared residence for workers, the person in charge of the company that employees them or the facility owner will receive a Dh 5,000 fine. The workers will have to pay Dh 5,00 for the same. For people who are violating the norms set by the appropriate authorities with regards to the maximum number of people practicing sports and leisure will be fined Dh 3,000. This includes activities like leisure activities at outdoor places, picnicking, public gatherings, and so on. If an operation facility violates the allowed number of employees in a facility at a given time, the owner of the facility is entitled to pay a fine of Dh 50,000.

8. Visiting Health Facility for Unnecessary or Invalid Reasons

If a person visits a healthcare facility for unnecessary reasons (with regards to the guidelines and instructions of the Ministry of Health and Prevention) he/she will be awarded a fine of Dh 3,000.

Refusing to Take a Medical Test

If the UAE resident refuses to take a medical test upon the relevant authorities order he/she is entitled to a fine of Dh 5,000. In the case of retaking a COVID-19 test without valid reason from any accredited medical laboratory in the UAE (within two weeks without a valid reason) can invite a fine of Dh 1,000.

Private Tutoring Violation

Private tutoring by physical meeting at public or private places it is subjected to fine. Dh 30,000 for whoever provides facilitates or organizes tutoring and Dh20,000 fine for whoever allows or organizes tutoring at private places.

9. Protecting Personal Data of Coronavirus Patients Violation

Broadcasting, publishing, copying, compiling, revealing, sending, or transferring medical data or information of patients (both test and treatment data), or deleting, damaging, or destroying the data or information will result in a fine of Dh 20,000. In case of a breach of the secured information in public or private hospitals can lead to a fine of Dh 5,000.

10. Repeat Violators 

Repeated violators will be referred to the Crisis and Emergency Prosecution and will undergo trial under the Provision No. 40 of the Federal Law No. 2 of the year 2011. These laws pertain to the establishment of the National Crisis and Emergency Authority (NCEMA) and the violators can get a punishment of term imprisonment not exceeding 6 months and or a fine of not less than Dh 100,000.