The most trending hashtags in the time of Coronavirus are #StayHome, #StaySafe and #SocialDistancing and that’s for a good reason. As COVID-19 continues to disrupt everyday life as we knew it, the UAE legislator is acting fast, trying to minimize the risks associated with the virus, while maintaining the stability and steadiness of our community.

The UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 17 of 2020 to contain the spread of Coronavirus, COVID-19, states the precautionary measures and preventive actions and obligations issued by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority. The sanctions are fines starting from Dhs500 up to Dhs50,000, to be doubled upon the repetition of the violation, and a jail term if the violation constitutes a crime punishable by law in the UAE.

How to avoid violation of the UAE’s quarantine laws? I’m sharing below the guidelines identified in The Attorney General Resolution No 38 of 2020, and what you can to do avoid being sanctioned.

1. Abide by the home quarantine instructions in the UAE’s Home Quarantine Guide, where you are forbidden to leave your home between 8:00pm and 6:00am unless you have the required permit. This is when sterilization is being carried out as part of the National Sterilization Program. The penalty is Dhs50,000.
2. During the above timings, procure a travel permit but only if it’s out of necessity. Radars on Dubai roads have been catching motorists’ violating law during the National Sterilization Program.
3. Don’t leave your home for anything that doesn’t constitute an emergency, otherwise you’ll have to pay a fine of Dhs2,000.
4. Avoid gatherings, as event organizers will have to pay a fine of Dhs10,000 and participants will be fined in the amount of Dhs5,000.
5. The fine for exceeding the maximum permitted number of passengers in a car by more than three is Dhs1,000.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced hundreds of millions of people around the world to distance themselves from each other. Observe the quarantine rules and stay safe for yourself, your loved ones and your community.

Diana Hamade Al-Ghurair is the founder and managing partner of Attorneys At Law, a legal practice that focuses on private clients and cross-border disputes. She writes Villa 88’s Legally Stylish column, which offers insight into how women can navigate legal situations with a fashionable and fun twist. Diana is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, board member of SIG and STEP, and Vice Chair of the Arab Regional Forum of the IBA. She has been named the ‘Most Influential Female Lawyer in the UAE’ by The Brief and the ‘Best Legal Affairs Writer’ by The National.  

Villa 88’s V for Victory series will feature news and views from industry experts about health and wellness, beauty, fashion, arts and culture, and law in the age of COVID-19. It’s an initiative that encourages you to stay at home and promotes ways you can best utilize your time during self-quarantine. Because together, we will be victorious over the virus.