The new Dubai penal order: A faster method of disposing of criminal proceedings

Dubai Law 1 of 2017 has introduced a new mechanism for disposing of criminal complaints. The law seeks to provide efficiency and lessen the workload across the judicial authorities. Prior to this new initiative, criminal complaints were investigated by the public prosecutor and referred to the criminal court for trial and sentencing. The new penal order permits a prosecutor, within the limits set out in the law, to find the defendant guilty of certain misdemeanours and issue a penalty for the crime committed without the matter being referred to court.