Can you waive a criminal complaint after being sentenced in the UAE?

Question: I fought with my wife and her sister and we insulted and assaulted each other. They filed a criminal complaint against me, and I filed a counter-complaint against them. The court sentenced each of us to 3 months’ imprisonment and a fine. Is it possible for all parties to waive their complaints at this stage, and, if so, would such waivers result in the non-execution of the judgments? 

Answer The person filing a complaint with regard to the Insult and slander of people may waive the complaint at any time before a final judgment is rendered thereon, and the criminal action shall be terminated by way of waiver. Thus, the parties should therefore submit the waiver to each other through the appropriate Public Prosecution or court procedure.

This is provided under Article 17 of Federal Decree-Law No. (38) of 2022, Promulgating the Criminal Procedures Law of the UAE, which states that a complainant in respect of the offences covered by Article 11 may waive the complaint at any time before a final judgment is rendered, in which case the criminal action shall be terminated by way of waiver. Insult and slander of people is one of the offenses mentioned in Article 11. 

Article 17 provides also that where there are several victims, the waiver is legally effective only if it is made by all victims who filed the complaint. Where there are several accused persons, a waiver in respect of one accused has legal effect in respect of the other accused persons as well. Moreover, if a waiver made after the judgment has become final, the Public Prosecution shall order a stay of execution of the penalty and release the convicted person.