UAE: Tough penalties for evading conscription

Abu Dhabi: Citizens who fail to join the mandatory military and reserve service will face up to 10 years in prison, according to a draft law, passed by the Cabinet in January and referred to the Federal National Council for debate.

The bill would require all men who have finished secondary school or are aged between 18 and 30 to undergo military service. The toughest penalty of 10 years’ jail would be handed down to citizens who fail to join the reserve troops once mobilised at war or martial law times or at any total or partial mobilisation for any threat against the UAE.

The bill would also penalise those who attempt to avoid the national service with a minimum jail term of a year, a fine of between Dh50,000 and Dh100,000 or both penalties.

The draft law was fast-tracked and forwarded to the House on Tuesday, which sent it to the defence committee.

Once passed by the FNC the bill needs to be signed into a law by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It will be enforced after six months from the date of publishing in the official gazette.

Once the law is enforced, Emiratis who had finished secondary school will have to serve nine months, while those who had not will serve two years. The national service will be optional for women.

Citizens who fail to enlist for military service without valid reason until they reach 29 years of age would face a jail term of between one month and a year, or a fine ranging between Dh10,000 and Dh50,000 or both. They will have to undergo the military service even if they exceeded the age limit of 30 years.

The reserves will consist of those who have completed their national service, military personnel who have finished their time in the Armed Forces and volunteers.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said the new law aims to put together a new national defence in order to protect the homeland and its borders and its resources and gains.

Shaikh Mohammad added the national service would include military exercises, and those enlisted in the Armed Forces would receive additional security training, stressing that protecting the nation and preserving its independence and sovereignty is a sacred national duty.

Once passed, those eligible will have to report to authorities to determine their service status. The sole son of a family and medically unfit citizens would benefit from an exemption to military service. Those who sustain their parents or disabled siblings and those serving jail terms would benefit from a temporary exemption. Once the reason for temporary exemption is over, those people have to report to the authorities to undergo the military service.

Working Emiratis will not be exempt and while serving in the military, time will be added to their end of service and pension benefits.

Military training will be held at Armed Forces centres.