October has brought several important legal and regulatory changes across the UAE, affecting areas ranging from criminal law and school privacy to food products, electronic invoicing and shared accommodation in Dubai.
Some changes apply directly to residents, while others are aimed at businesses, schools, landlords and food establishments. Here are five key UAE rule updates to know this month.
1. UAE decriminalises attempted suicide
The UAE has amended its Crimes and Penalties Law to remove criminal punishment for attempted suicide.
The amendment, announced on October 8, is intended to shift the response towards prevention, treatment, and early intervention. A person who attempts suicide will no longer face criminal punishment simply for the attempt.
The updated law does, however, introduce penalties for anyone who encourages or assists another person to take their own life.
Where an attempted suicide follows such incitement or assistance but does not result in death, the person responsible can face detention and a fine, or either penalty. If the attempt causes permanent disability, illness or an inability to perform personal tasks for more than 20 days, the penalty increases to between three and five years in prison, plus a fine.
If the assistance or incitement results in death, the penalty can be between five and seven years in prison.
The law also provides stronger protection where the person targeted is under 18 or has diminished will or perception. Foreign nationals convicted under the relevant suicide-related provisions can also face deportation.
2. UAE schools tighten rules around photographing children
Parents and visitors are being reminded to take extra care when photographing or filming children at UAE schools.
The issue is particularly important when photographs or videos include other pupils and are subsequently shared through WhatsApp groups, social media or other digital platforms.
UAE privacy legislation can apply to the unauthorised photographing, recording or sharing of material involving another person. Article 44 of the UAE Cybercrime Law provides for imprisonment of at least six months and/or a fine ranging from Dh150,000 to Dh500,000 where conduct falls within the offence of invading privacy.
This does not mean that every photograph taken at a school automatically results in a Dh500,000 penalty. Whether an offence has occurred depends on the circumstances and applicable law.
Schools can also set their own photography policies. For example, the Ministry of Education’s approval process for school advertising requires parental consent when students’ photographs are used.
Parents should therefore follow their school’s instructions, particularly during assemblies, performances, sports days, classroom activities and other events where other children may appear in the background.
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3. UAE introduces new limits on salt, sugar and fat in selected foods
The UAE has started implementing new nutritional limits covering sodium, processed sugar and fat in a range of packaged food products.
The rules apply to covered foods manufactured locally or imported into the UAE and include products handled by food establishments in free zones.
The affected categories include bread, sweetened milk drinks, flavoured yoghurt and laban, salty snacks and processed cheese.
The changes will be introduced gradually rather than requiring every product to meet the final limits immediately.
For example, leavened bread will initially be limited to 444 milligrams of sodium, 6 grammes of total sugar and 8.4 grammes of total fat per 100 grammes. The final limits are 370mg of sodium, 5g of sugar and 7g of fat.
For flatbread, the first-stage sodium limit is 384mg per 100g, falling to 320mg in the final stage.
Sweetened milk drinks, including milk alternatives, will have a sugar limit of 9.6g per 100g in the first phase, eventually falling to 8g. Sweetened or flavoured yoghurt and laban will move from a 12g limit to 10g.
The rules also cover products such as salted crackers, nuts and seeds, pretzels, crisps and other extruded snacks.
The final limits for the covered products are due to be reached by December 31, 2030.
Businesses that fail to comply can face warnings, administrative fines ranging from Dh5,000 to Dh500,000, closure for up to six months or cancellation of a licence or approval, depending on the violation.
4. UAE updates electronic invoicing accreditation rules
The Ministry of Finance has introduced a revised accreditation framework for electronic invoicing service providers.
Ministerial Decision No. 168 of 2026 took effect on October 1 and replaces the previous accreditation framework as the UAE’s eInvoicing programme moves from development and testing towards full operation.
One of the main changes is the removal of the previous pre-approval stage. Service providers must now complete the required accreditation assessment and testing before receiving official accreditation.
Companies that had already received preliminary approval under the previous framework have up to 30 days from October 1 to complete the new accreditation requirements.
The Ministry has also retained flexibility, allowing service providers to use third-party Peppol service-provider products or outsource certain parts of their eInvoicing operations, while remaining responsible for compliance.
The update is primarily relevant to eInvoicing service providers. Businesses subject to the UAE’s eInvoicing system should separately check the deadlines and requirements that apply to their own operations.
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5. Dubai tightens shared accommodation rules
Dubai’s new shared housing framework is now being implemented, with rules covering where shared accommodation can operate, how properties must be managed and the conditions residents must meet.
Law No. 4 of 2026 regulates the management and occupancy of shared housing across Dubai, including relevant private development and free zones. It requires properties used for shared accommodation to obtain the necessary permits and comply with technical, health, safety, and occupancy requirements.
Dubai Municipality has identified more than 44 areas where shared housing can be permitted, either across an entire designated area or in specified parts of an area.
However, simply living in one of these locations does not automatically make a property eligible for shared accommodation. Owners and authorised operators must still obtain the required approvals and meet the applicable standards.
The framework also separates family and individual accommodation. Families and individuals cannot simply be combined in the same shared residential unit.
Among the requirements are minimum living space and bathroom standards. A bedroom must provide at least five square metres per occupant, while one complete bathroom is required for every four occupants. Family accommodation must also provide a separate bedroom and private bathroom for each family.
The rules are designed to tackle overcrowding, unauthorised subletting and unsafe residential arrangements.
Existing shared-housing properties have a one-year period to regularise their status under the new framework, although building violations and conditions posing safety risks still need to be addressed.
Fines under the law can range from Dh500 to Dh500,000, with repeat violations potentially leading to higher penalties of up to Dh1 million. Other measures can include suspension of activity, permit cancellation, or eviction where the legal requirements are not met.